This year going back to school is about far more than returning to campus – it’s about changing history. For many a trip to the ballot box will be right around the corner, and some will cast their first ever vote for president. We want to be sure that the youth voice is heard. But it won’t be unless young people are prepared for the challenges they may face at the polls.

Step 1: Check out the Democracy Campaign

A joint project of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation, the Democracy Campaign's aim is to protect the fundamental right of every voter to have his or her vote accurately counted. Its web site makes available a number of resources to achieve this goal. The Foundation is working diligently to prepare toolkits on voter ID and other voting rights issues. Some are posted now.

I’d also encourage you to learn more about Generation Vote – a Democracy Campaign ally that’s led in part by Young People For.

Step 2: Register to Vote

As a college student, you may have two choices for where to register and vote: either your home address or your school address. If you’re not already registered in one of those places, now is the time to fix that. Go to your Secretary of State’s web site and download an application. Vote411.org, from the League of Women Voters Education Fund, can point you in the right direction. Applications should also be available on campus, as well as the local registrar or board of elections office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools, and other government offices.

Step 3: Go Vote

Some states have harsh, restrictive voter ID laws that require government issued photo ID in order to vote. While such laws may seem like no burden to those of us lucky enough to have a current driver's license, many people find it a great barrier to the voting booth. What if you wanted to vote at school but happened to hold a driver's license in the state where your folks live? You might be turned away. It’s important that you know what you’ll be asked to provide and what to do if you can’t provide it.

In some states it’s photo ID. In others a photo isn’t required. You can find out what the law is where you vote at Vote411.org, which can also tell you whether provisional voting is available. Poll workers should offer you a provisional ballot if you don’t have the right ID. Be sure to ask for one if they don’t. We don’t want you to rely on it, but most states offer that option.