As the presidential election approaches, college students on campus are trying to decide if they are going to stay on campus and vote absentee or make a trip home to cast their ballot.
Some students are unsure where or how to vote while attending college, but there are many options to make sure every vote is counted.
An absentee vote is a way for people to still vote without having to physically go to a polling place on election day, and is often used by college students, individuals who have an illness, members of the military, or anyone else who has a valid excuse according to each individual state.
“Each state is different,” said Brain Ashe, a State Representative from Longmeadow, “But in most elections, Massachusetts lets their voters choose whether they would rather vote in person or by mail.”
State Representative Ashe especially encouraged young voters to go out and vote this November because he believes that the youth’s vote in this election is more important than ever.
“I think your generation will have a tremendous impact on this year's election,” said State Representative Ashe.
Deadlines to request a mail-in ballot and when to send it vary in each state. Each deadline is available on Vote.org
“I didn’t even know mailing in a ballot was a thing,” said Ella Lund, ‘27. “The next time I go home I’ll probably tell my parents so they can have a ballot sent to my house so I can fill it out and they can mail it for me whenever the deadline is.”
If students have their ballots sent to the school, they must send it back in the mail before the deadline so their votes can be counted. More information about deadlines and drop-off locations are available on Vote Smart - Facts For All.
If students live close by and are interested in casting their vote in person, this year's presidential election will take place on November 5.
There is a polling locator available on Polling Place Locator - Vote.org if students are unsure on where they can go to vote on November 5.
“I plan on just going home I’m from Rhode Island but I’m less than an hour from school,” said Rachel Morin, ‘27.
Before students can request an absentee ballot or go to a polling booth, they must register to vote and check to see when their state’s registration deadline is, which is available on Register to vote.
This year’s election is the first presidential election in which a majority of the students on campus can finally vote. The youth vote has been proven to play a crucial role in elections.
According to a Tufts University report on the 2022 midterm elections, “27% of young people (ages 18–29) turned out to vote in the 2022 midterm election and helped decide critical races…the 2022 youth turnout is likely the second-highest youth turnout rate for a midterm election in the past 30 years.”
“If you guys want change you have to go out and vote,” said Representative Ashe. “I think this election is going to be a pivotal point in our country’s history.”
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