Registering to Vote @ the Library

August 14, 2012

It's a presidential election year, and that means many people will register and re-register to vote in the Nov. 6, 2012 election.

One of the most popular and convenient places to register is your local MCPL branch. Here is a brief guide to make registering to vote at the Library easy and hassle-free.

First, the deadline to register is Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. You must be at least age 17 1/2 to register, and 18 years old by Election Day to vote. You must re-register to vote if you've moved, changed your name, or if you've fallen off the voter registration rolls. To see if you are already registered to vote, check out the Missouri Secretary of State's online VoteMissouri voter look-up.

If you register at an MCPL branch, choose a location that is in your home county. Otherwise, you can pick up a mail-in form at the Library and mail it into your local election office. The Missouri Secretary of State's Office has an online video on how to properly fill out the mail-in form.

To ensure your registration application is processed quickly and properly by your local election board, it's best to bring proper identification to the Library verifying who you are and where you live. A driver's license is best, but another government-issued I.D. or United State passport is a good substitute. If your I.D. doesn't show your current address, also bring a recent utility bill or bank statement labeled with your current address.

Along with your name and current address, we'll ask you several questions for the form, including the last four digits of your Social Security number, your driver's license number, mother's maiden name, place of birth, occupation, and daytime phone number. Once we've collected all the information we need, you'll sign the form, and we'll send it off to the local election board for processing.

Come in early to your local MCPL branch and register to vote, and ensure that your vote counts this November.

Sara PD
Kearney Branch