By: Rhea Yokum

For many students, the 2024 election is our first opportunity to vote in the presidential election. Taking the proper steps to register is the first step in ensuring your vote matters. 

Voting is your civic duty as an American and while you may think, “my one vote among millions doesn’t make a difference,” you are undoubtedly wrong. Your vote may not directly elect the president, but if it is combined with that of others in your voting district or county, it will have an impact on electoral results. 

“Often, students feel their vote never matters, but what they forget is that a handful of votes can create better outcomes. If you don’t vote, then your voice is not heard and with many college students able to vote, our voice and vote can make a difference!” Novalee Schmidt said, a WE LEAD Human Rights Team Coordinator. 

There are three ways you can register to vote, online, by mail, or in person at a local election office. Visit vote.gov to begin the voter registration process. Select your state or territory. There you will find step-by-step instructions on how to register online, by mail, and in person. To register to vote, you will often need a driver’s license or a state ID. If you do not have one of these, you may be able to provide alternative documents, such as a bank statement or an energy bill. However, the documents required for registration differ by state. Check with your state’s election office to see what documents they accept. 

For out of state college students unable to return home to vote at their assigned polling place, there are other options. Absentee voting enables you to cast a ballot in an election without physically visiting a polling station or vote center. If you are “absent” from your polling location, you can vote by absentee ballot at a more convenient time. 

The first step is to fill out a form requesting an absentee ballot. The form must be completed and sent to your hometown’s county clerk before the election date. When you receive your ballot, make sure you follow the exact instructions on how to correctly fill it out to avoid an invalid ballot. After completing, the United States Postal Service recommends that voters mail their completed ballot at least one week before the due date. After mailing you can track your ballot and check its status online. 

Election day takes place on Tuesday, November 5^th, become an engaged citizen in your country and register to vote today!

Photo from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/30/voter-registration-deadlines/75353172007/.