Here’s how you can vote if you’re an out-of-state college student
Voting is one of the most (if not THE most) vital civic duties a person can perform for their country. Because democracy. And with the election only 20 days away, it’s important to do what you can to get informed of your voting options. For out-of-state college students, the thought of voting can seem very daunting.
But have no fear, we’re here to help you figure out your voting options!
1. First, decide if you want to vote in your local elections back home or figure out if you can register to vote in your college town. Some towns allow for voter registration in which your college is listed as your address. You can either talk to the city clerk in your college’s town or an executive board member of a political club at your school to see if it is an option.
2. Check that you’re registered to vote. If you want to vote for down-ballot candidates and issues in your home state, call your city or town clerk and double-check your registration. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you decided to vote in your school’s state, make sure you get registered. Use a clerk or a registrar to ensure that you’re registered!
3. If voting in your home state, request an absentee ballot! Keep in mind any deadlines to request the ballot. With the election coming up so quickly, some states will set a deadline for absentee ballot requests. Fill out the ballot and send it back to your town or city clerk by election day. Most states want absentee ballots postmarked by election day, so make sure you know when it’s due!
4. If you’re voting at school, make sure you know your polling location and when polls open and close. Most cities are divided by district, so make sure you know where to go vote and have transportation to get there!
**If you register in your school’s state, it won’t necessarily override your voter registration in your home state. Just make sure you only vote ONCE.
While it may seem daunting, voting is an incredibly exciting process. Taking part of our political process is an important duty and every eligible person should go out and vote!
