GUEST COLUMN: Firing up the vote with Central Votes
Executive members of Central Votes encourage student involvement in Michigan Primary
By Carson Cooley and Avery Harbison
With Michigan’s presidential primary in just a few weeks, it’s a good time to examine what primaries are, how they work, and why they’re important. As the president and vice president of Central Votes, we know there’s a lot of questions surrounding primaries, and we hope to clear up some of that confusion here!
To start, what is a primary, and how is it different from a general election? While the general election is when we elect who will go into office, a primary election is when each of the political parties determine who to put onto the ballot. So, for politicians hoping to get into office, they first have to win the primary in their own party, and then win again in the general election.
With that in mind, here’s some basic info about this primary election season: The presidential primary is happening on Tuesday February 27, while the primaries for the other Michigan positions will be held on August 6. Positions up for the August primary include one of Michigan’s Senate seats, all representatives in both the U.S. Senate and Michigan House of Representatives, and various judicial positions.
Voting can be daunting, and with the passing of Proposal 2 in 2022, we now have more ways to vote. With these new opportunities, however, it can sometimes feel overwhelming trying to figure out what the best option is for you.
Step-by-step
It helps to break it down step by step with a voting plan, a set of questions you can ask yourself to make sure you have your voice heard by the day of the election. We’ll break down the most important things to know before election day.
Let’s start with the first step: registering to vote. Now, registering to vote in Michigan is easier than ever, and you can do it online! If you’re an eligible voter, all you need is your driver’s license number or Michigan ID number, and your address.
If you think you’re already registered, you can check at the same webpage. The last day to register online is Feb. 12, but you can still register in person the day of the election at your clerk’s office if need be.
Second, there’s three ways to vote:
- In-person on election day,
- absentee or “at-home” voting and
- early in-person voting
Each of these avenues are secure, and ultimately which you choose is up to your preference.
In-person is the traditional method of going in on election day and casting your ballot.
Early voting is the same process, just before the day of the election. Each jurisdiction has at least 9 days of early voting, though some do have more.
Absentee is when you request a ballot and receive it in the mail. After filling it out, you can mail it back to your clerk’s office or return it in person at either your clerk’s office or at several drop boxes.
You can find your early voting locations, clerk’s office, and drop boxes all at mi.gov/vote. You can even request your absentee ballot there!
Third, get informed! Lots of non-partisan resources exist, like vote-411!
Finally, once you’ve selected your method of voting and gotten informed, ask yourself what things you need to complete the process, and be specific.
Do you know what day and time you’re going to the polls? How you’re going to get there? If you’re voting by mail, do you know how you’re going to return your ballot?
Then get out there and get fired up to vote!
Importance and representation
Many people have often expressed displeasure in voting for the “lesser of two evils”, or the better of two mediocre candidates. But the truth is that you can prevent this by participating in the primary and ensuring that your voice is heard.
With many college students voting for the first, maybe second time, it can be exciting to finally have your voice heard in our political system. However, it can be heavily discouraging if you do not believe that the two candidates represent your values and beliefs. The primaries often include a wide range of candidates with different core values, and this is the perfect time for you to explore and find a candidate who is good for you.
Another reason many people are discouraged from the political system is because they believe that it is heavily divisive and polarizing. Primaries are a method that vets candidates from both parties to ensure they are fit to be a figurehead for our country. Low participation rates in the primary elections give polarizing and niche candidates a better chance to make it to the general election.
Not only does low turnout sometimes lead to bad candidates, but it doesn’t give them any incentive to change. If bad campaign tactics have consistently worked in the past, they will continue to use them until the voters deny them that service. Even if increased turnout does not initially cause the bad candidate to lose, there is now an incentive for the candidate to change tactics to appeal to their newfound base.
For first-time voters, the primaries are an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the electoral process as well. Voting can be intimidating your first time, and it’s always good to gather experience when you can. Participating in the primaries can get you comfortable and learn how the system works, preparing you for future elections like the general.
While general elections tend to get more news coverage and attention, the primaries are in many ways more important. Deciding which candidates get on that final ballot can increase overall morale and confidence in our electoral process. Not only that, they can improve true representation in our government, something we can all agree is truly lacking.
Central Votes President Carson Cooley and Vice President Avery Harbison are students at Central Michigan University, Democracy Fellows for the Campus Vote Project and members of the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force though the Secretary of State's office.
