Today is Tuesday March 1, 2016. It is also known as Super Tuesday in American politics. This is the day that Arkansans are to vote in the primary election. According to my clock, you have about 5 more hours to make it to your polling place.

Voting is one of the fundamental rights in our nation. I encourage you to exercise this right by going to the polls today. Governor’s school sought to develop the critical thinking skills of its students and I encourage you to utilize those skills to select candidates that you have determined will help better our communities.

If you forgot your polling place, you can look it up here.

In Arkansas, poll workers are required to ask if you have ID, BUT you are not required to present an ID or at the polls UNLESS you can check off all three of these things as a “yes”.

1. registered to vote by mail after January 1, 2003
2. did not submit a copy of the required identification with the application
3. AND are voting in an election for federal office FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE STATE

There are several different types of ID that satisfy this requirement. You can use any one from the following list

1. Valid Arkansas driver’s license or photo ID card
2. current utility bill that shows your name and address
3. current bank statement that shows your name and address
4. current government check that shows your name and address
5. any other government document that shows your name and address

If you are required to show an ID and don’t have one, you can still vote on a provisional ballot. That means that you can still fill out a ballot. It will be set aside and the Board of Election officials verify the registration and determine whether the vote should or should not be counted.

So go vote people. It’s important.