For either Senator Barack Obama or Senator John McCain to win on November 4, they have to secure 270 electoral votes. Electoral votes are apportioned to states based upon population and congressional representation. Many Americans became more fully aware of electoral votes and the Electoral College in the controversial and still disputed 2000 presidential election that was ultimately decided by an equally controversial decision of the United States Supreme Court.
While every state is important, the election undoubtedly will turn on the results in a handful of "battleground" states in which both candidates have been fighting to secure “swing voters” as well as those that traditionally vote in sync with their parties. The states that fall into this category are listed below, along with the requirements for voting on Election Day and contact information for state election officials.
Colorado
Electoral Votes: 9
2004 Results:
Bush: 51.69%
Kerry: 47.02%
Early voting ends on Friday October 31, 2008
Election Day:
Polls Open: 7:00 AM
Polls Close: 7:00 PM
Note:
You will need one of the following forms of identification when you vote:
- A current and valid Colorado driver's license
- A valid identification card issued by the Department of Revenue in accordance with the requirements of Part 3 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S.;
- A valid U.S. passport;
- A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government or of this state, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of this state;
- A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the United States;
- A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector;
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. (A cable bill, a telephone bill, documentation from a public institution of higher education in Colorado containing at least the name, date of birth, and legal residence address of the student elector, a paycheck from a government institution, or a Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood are sufficient forms of identification);
- A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the United States Health Care Financing Administration;
- A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector issued in the United States or certified documentation of naturalization
- A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado.
Colorado Secretary of State
Secretary of State Mike Coffman
303.894.2200
Colorado Attorney General
Attorney General John W. Suthers
303.866.4500
Florida
Electoral Votes: 27
2004 Results:
Bush: 52.10%
Kerry: 47.09%
Early voting ends on Sunday November 2, 2008
Election Day:
Polls Open: 7:00 AM
Polls Close: 7:00 PM
Note:
Voters in Florida must bring current and valid identification to their polling place in order to vote. Forms of identification that are accepted include the following:
- Florida identification card
- Florida driver's license
- United States passport
- Debit or credit card
- Military identification
- Student identification
- Retirement center identification
- Neighborhood association identification
- Public assistance identification
The photo identification must include the voter’s signature. If not, an additional piece of identification with a signature is required. If you do not present one of the pieces of identification listed above you can still vote by casting a provisional ballot. We do not encourage the use of provisional ballots. These ballots are counted the day after an election once the county canvassing board has verified that the person was qualified to vote in that precinct and has confirmed the voter’s identity.
State Division of Elections
850.245.6200
Florida Attorney General
Attorney General Bill McCollum
850.414.3300
Indiana
Electoral Votes: 11
2004 Results:
Bush: 59.94%
Kerry: 39.26%
Early voting ends on Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Day:
Polls Open: 6:00 AM
Polls Close: 6:00 PM
Note:
You are required to present a government issued photo ID before casting a ballot. The identification you use must meet the following criteria:
- The voter's ID displays the voter's photo
- The voter’s name on the ID must conform to the name on the voter registration record. Conform does not mean identical.
- The voter’s ID must contain an expiration date and either still be current or have expired sometime after the date of the most recent General Election (November 7, 2006)
- The voter’s ID must be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. government.
- A valid Indiana driver license, state issued ID card, Military ID or U.S. passport is generally considered sufficient identification. A student identification card can be used only if it meets the four criteria above. A student ID issued from a private institution is not valid.
Indiana Secretary of State
Secretary of State Todd Rokita
317.232.6531
Indiana Attorney General
Attorney General Steve Carter
317.232.6201
Michigan
Electoral Votes: 17
2004 Results:
Kerry: 51.23%
Bush: 47.81%
Election Day:
Polls Open: 7:00 AM
Polls Close: 8:00 PM
Note:
Every Michigan voter must present picture identification or sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in possession of picture identification. Visit the Michigan Department of State to determine the specifics concerning voter identification.
Michigan Secretary of State
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land
Michigan Attorney General
Attorney General Mike Cox
517.373.1110
North Carolina
Electoral Votes: 15
2004 Results:
Bush: 56.02%
Kerry: 43.58%
Early voting ends on Saturday November 1, 2008
Election Day:
Polls Open: 6:30 AM
Polls Close: 7:30 PM
Note:
Voters who registered by mail, or via a voter registration drive, on or after January 1, 2003, and who have not previously voted in an election for federal office (e.g. President, Congress) should bring the following:
- Current and valid photo identification; or
- A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other document that shows the name and address under which you registered.
State Board of Elections
919.733.7173
North Carolina Attorney General
Attorney General Roy Cooper
919.716.6400
Ohio
Electoral Votes: 20
2004 Results:
Bush: 50.82%
Kerry: 48.70%
Early voting ends on Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Day:
Polls Open: 6:30 AM
Polls Close: 7:30 PM
Note:
You must bring one of the following types of identification:
- A current and valid photo identification (i.e. Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, government ID). Photo identification must show name and address (does not need to be current address for driver’s license or state id card); or,
- A military identification that shows your name. (Does not need to show address); or,
- A copy of a current utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and current address (including from a public college or university).
You cannot use as proof of identification a notice sent to you by the Board of Elections. If you do not have identification you can vote by provisional ballot.
Ohio Secretary of State
Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner
614.466.2585
Ohio Attorney General
Attorney General Nancy H. Rogers
614.466.4320
Pennsylvania
Electoral Votes: 21
2004 Results:
Bush: 50.92%
Kerry: 48.42%
Election Day:
Polls Open: 7:00 AM
Polls Close: 8:00 PM
Note:
If you are voting for the first time, you must bring one of the following forms of identification:
- Confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office
- Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
- Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
- Firearm permit
- Current utility bill
- Current bank statement
- Current paycheck
- Government check
Pennsylvania Secretary of State
Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortes
717.787.6458
Pennsylvania Attorney General
Attorney General Tom Corbett
717.787.3391
Virginia
Electoral Votes: 13
2004 Results:
Bush: 53.68%
Kerry: 45.48%
Election Day:
Polls Open: 6:00 AM
Polls Close: 7:00 PM
Note:
All voters must provide proper identification at the polls or sign an Affirmation of Identification. The following are acceptable forms of identification:
- Virginia voter identification card
- Valid Virginia driver's license
- Military ID
- Any Federal, state or local government-issued ID
- Employer issued photo ID card
- Social Security card
If you do not have one of the forms of identification listed above, you may still vote but will be required to sign, under oath, an Affirmation of Identity attesting to your identity.
Individuals who registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003 must show identification when voting for the first time in a federal election if they did not send a copy of one of the above forms of identification with their voter registration applications. The following forms of identification are acceptable:
- Current and valid photo ID (for example a driver's license
- Current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck that shows name and address
- Another government document that shows name and address (for example a voter card)
Virginia Board of Elections
804.864.8901
Virginia Attorney General
Attorney General Bob McDonnell
804.786.2071
