Listen up, college students. The presidential election is on November 5, 2024. That’s soon. It’s time to come up with a plan and be prepared for election day.
Registering
The deadline to register to be able to vote in the 2024 presidential election is October 21, 2024, in PA. There are so many resources out there for you to check your voter registration and register to vote. The quickest and easiest way is to register through the PA Voter Services website.
If you have previously registered to vote, it is still not a bad idea to check your voter registration. As stated on the PA Voter services website, you do not need to register again unless you have moved, changed names, or changed your political party. You can check your voter registration here at the PA Voter Services registration status website.
Polling Locations
Before election day (November 5th), make sure you check where your polling location is. In PA you can look up your location here. Polls are open from 7AM to 8PM on November 5th. If you are an out-of-state student attending college in PA and would like to vote in person, you can change your address to the location of your university. However, you must be sure that you are only registered to vote in one state. If you would like to change your address make sure to update your voter registration by October 21. (Which has passed)
Mail-in Ballots
The deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is October 29, 2024 at 5PM. If you are living away from home, voting via mail-in ballot is another option to be able to vote in your home county. If you have already requested a mail-in or absentee ballot most counties have sent them out already so be sure to keep checking your mail. You can check for updates about absentee ballot
If you have requested a ballot, it must be turned into your county on November 5, 2024 no later than 5PM.
When filling out your mail-in ballot make sure you are following the instructions to maintain proper voting integrity. The PA Voter Services website has a detailed list of instructions that include images on how to fill out your ballot.
Once you have filled out your ballot it is time to return your ballot. In PA there are many different ways you can return it either by mail, drop box, your county election office, or other officially designated drop off locations. You can check out those options on the PA Voter Services website.
Make a Voting Plan
Now that you have figured out all of the logistics of voting it’s time to make your voting plan. Now what does this mean? Basically figuring out who is on your ballot. Do your research on both candidates. Be sure to research their policies and what they stand for.
Resources
The resource you should be using the most to check your registration is your state’s voter services website. In PA this is www.pavoterservices.pa.gov.
One of my favorite resources, run by the League of Women’s Voters, is vote411.org. This website has any information and can answer any questions you may have about voting and the upcoming election.
Written by Loco Mag Staff writer: Sarah Zdunkiewicz
