The voter population of undergraduate students in the U.S. is approximately 17 million students. With the current circumstances our country is in for the upcoming election, many students can face many challenges when voting. To make sure to take part in this year’s election, requesting an absentee ballot is a great way to make your vote matter. 

For many college students, this is our first time voting in a presidential election, which makes it even more important to think about the future ahead of us. By taking the proper steps to complete the absentee ballot, we can assure our vote in the 2020 election. 

The first step into completing a mail-in ballot is to be registered in your state of residence. First-time voters can easily register themselves through the mail or a local government facility. 

The next step is to fill out a form requesting an absentee ballot for your state of residence. When filling the absentee request, the form must be completed and sent to your hometown’s county clerk prior to the election date.

Once you receive your ballot, make sure to follow direct instructions on how to fill it out properly in order to avoid an invalid ballot. Once filled out and ready to send out, it is crucial that you use your legal signature to sign the outer envelope on the designated area. 

It is suggested to send out your completed ticket nearly a week before the election date. When you mail out your ballot, many states allow you to track it like you would track an online package. This ensures voters’ security in knowing that their vote arrives at their election official’s office. Making sure you vote is one way you can play your part in creating change for our country, whether it maybe be on a local, state, or national level.