By David Todd Special to OnMilwaukee Published Nov 03, 2016 at 8:36 PM Photography: Andy Tarnoff

We know time is a precious thing, so these Millennial Life Hacks will never take you longer than five minutes to get some excellent advice – plus a video under one minute. What will you do with all that extra time?

Vote ... now

For many millennials, this may be the first election they are voting for president. For many, that alone can be daunting enough to keep you away from the polls – if this year's antics haven't already done so. Here are a few things to make it easier to vote (some extra info in your back pocket)

First, and this is new this Presidential election, Wisconsin requires a photo ID (drivers license, state ID or passport) to vote and to register. You can register the day of the election, Nov. 8, or you can follow the links in this article to get things going. 

I heard a local radio DJ saying the 18th was the last day to register ... BY MAIL. You're going to hear a lot to sway your vote – even get fake looking ballots in the mail. The best advice is to vote at your local polling place. If you're a student, bring your ID and a CURRENT utility bill to prove residence here even if you live in another part of Wisconsin.

It's important that YOUR generation gets out to vote because you're the largest population this election effects. Millennials surpassed Baby Boomers last year... and Gen X is just a blip.

When asked why East Side resident Anna Leah was voting, she said, "Of course I intend to vote. Voting is one of, I think, our main responsibilities as citizens, locally and nationally. It's crucial if we want to see change to participate." Leah continued to say, "[I] did vote in the primaries. It's always good to get a feel for what we're looking at moving forward – even if it's only a preliminary vote and doesn't directly reflect the election."

In essence, your primary vote determines your final vote And you came up with Trump and Clinton.

Why is it so important that you get out to vote? I reached out to Brian Wooldridge of Wisconsin Citizen Action and asked him that same question.

"We've seen here in Wisconsin that by not getting out to vote [our citizens] let Governor Scott Walker to stay in office and solidified the Wisconsin Supreme Court as a pro-right-wing agenda court. Leaving Walker in office gave us the anti-middle class Right-To-Work, anti-democracy photo ID, the school slashing budget, the continued failed WEDC and job growth, and the corruption and drowning of Wisconsin's Campaign Finance laws, to say a few," said Wooldridge.

And here is the most important thing for you: Voting is your SUPERPOWER.

"We had a chance with the recall to put a stop to this, and we didn't," Wooldridge added. "Yes, voting for president is extremely important, but voting for state and local office holders is even more important and will certainly effect your daily life." 

Wooldridge goes on to remind us, "Your vote is your voice ... and it counts."

Here are some links to give you more resources:

And you can vote NOW!

Yes, Wisconsin is one of only 34 states – plus the District of Columbia – that has early voting. You can vote today, but early voting closes this Friday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m., Downtown at the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building right next to City Hall. After that, you must vote at your neighborhood polling place.

Just a quick cheat sheet, here are your options:

  • Donald J. Trump and Mike Pence (Republican)
  • Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine (Democrat)
  • Gary Johnson and Bill Weld (Libertarian)
  • Dr. Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka (Green Party)

Now, a lot of people talk about voting neither main parties, or simply writing in a name. It's your vote, and you can do that. But the system is rigged a bit in the sense that with really a two-party system, by voting for Johnson or Stein, essentially you throw away your vote in protest. Come November, either Clinton or Trump will be sitting in the Oval Office. That said, being the largest voting population, it's your call.

If you have questions, ask someone you trust to assist you.

David Todd Special to OnMilwaukee
David Todd is the managing director of Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. Todd, who also has worked television in Milwaukee and Los Angeles, returned to Milwaukee in 2007 from L.A. where he served as director of marketing and corporate giving for the Orange County affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. A theatre buff, Todd is an alumnus of Pius XI High School and its theatre program where he performed both on stage and behind-the-scenes. David received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1991. He says these days, however, he prefers a seat in the Dress Circle or to be watching his favorite musical “Funny Girl.” Todd can be reached at david@chamber-theatre.com.