Voting 101: The Avenue Magazine Guide
By Vaughn Luthringer
Graphic Courtesy of Vaughn Luthringer
It’s mid-October and by this point, you’ve probably received reminders to vote from just about every social platform you’re on, plus a few encouraging messages in your inbox. Basically, the whole country is shouting “VOTE!” right in your ear.
Banners and pop-up windows encouraging you to vote are great and give an easy shortcut to voter registration sites. But voting as a college student, during a pandemic, possibly over a thousand miles from home, can make voting a little more complicated.
So let us break it down for you. Here’s everything you need to know about voting as a college student in Boston.
Step 1: Decide where you want to vote
If you’re living away from your home state, your options vary based on where you’re from. If your home state is Massachusetts, then that’s where you’ll need to register to vote. If your home state is not Massachusetts, then you can choose to register in your home state or Massachusetts. You have dual residency, so the choice is yours (vote.org)!
Graphic Courtesy of Vaughn Luthringer
So what exactly goes into making the decision? It’s more than just a simple, both-sides-equally-weighted decision. You can make the decision randomly, or you can do a little research that will give your vote more power (psst. . . you want your vote to have the most power possible). If you live in a swing state (a state that does not consistently support one political party), you may choose to register to vote there, as your vote may have more of an impact than in a non-swing state. If you cast a blue vote in a swing-state, yours might be the ballot that pushes that state over the edge and into the blue. Living outside of your home state for college is a unique opportunity—and one you should take advantage of. Dual residency allows you to choose where your vote will bring more power at the polls.
You can also use state-level politics to drive your decision. If you want to vote for representatives in the House for your home state, go for it! Or, you can choose to have a voice in Massachusetts politics.
Wherever you decide to vote, make sure you inform yourself about the candidates that will be on your ballot.
Graphic Courtesy of Vaughn Luthringer
Step 2: Register (Yes, we know you know)
Once you’ve made the decision about where you’ll be voting, it’s registration time.
Registration is made easy at Vote.org. Just fill out the form, and you’re good to go.
If you’re under 18, you can pre-register to vote at Vote.gov , and you’ll be automatically registered on your 18th birthday.
Note: If you are planning to vote in Massachusetts, you must register before Election Day.
Step 3: Decide how you’ll be voting
We’re in the midst of a global pandemic. You’re away from home. What’s the best way to ensure your ballot is counted?
Based on where you’re registered, you have two options if you’re living away from home.
Voting In-Person
If your home state is Massachusetts, you have the option to vote in-person at the polls—social-distancing, mask-wearing style, of course. Visit Massachusetts Elections and Voting to find your nearest polling place. In Massachusetts, the early voting period runs from Oct. 17 to Oct. 30, or you can opt to vote on Election Day which is Nov. 3. For more information on early voting, plus schedules and locations for Massachusetts, visit Massachusetts Early Voting.
If you’ll be voting in-person, make sure to bring valid identification. There are only certain cases where you should need it, but it’s good to play it safe. Any printed identification that includes your name and address will suffice (USAGov).
Voting By Mail
More than likely, you’ll be voting by mail this year.
Visit this website to find out if you’re eligible to vote by mail. This year, some states are mailing ballots to every registered voter, and no reason is needed in order to request an absentee ballot in others (more on that later). However, to err on the side of caution, double-check that voting by mail is an option for you. The above link will direct you to your home state’s election website, where you can find your voting options.
If you’re registered in Massachusetts, you’ll receive a mail-in ballot no matter how you choose to vote—the state has sent them to all registered voters.
Requesting An Absentee Ballot
If you’re registered to vote at your home address but not living at home, you’ll need to request an absentee ballot which you can do at Vote.org or through your county’s election website. If you registered to vote recently, you may need to visit US Vote Foundation‘s resource instead, as the Vote.org system may not have processed and reflect your voter registration status.
Note: if you registered to vote using your school address, you do not need to request an absentee ballot, no matter where you are registered.
If you request an absentee ballot, it will be mailed to you before Election Day. However, it’s important to remember that absentee ballot applications must be received—not just postmarked—by the deadline.
Graphic Courtesy of Vaughn Luthringer
Step 4: Vote!
The moment we’ve all been waiting for: filling out your ballot. If you’re voting by mail, make sure you follow all the instructions that come with the ballot. If the instructions say to fully shade in an oval, fully shade in the oval. And skip the lazy signatures—use your real one on the envelope because a mismatched signature from what your board of elections has on file could mean a rejected ballot. Once you’ve sent your ballot, there’s no going back. So do it right.
Step 5: Send (if you’re voting by mail)
Send your ballot, and send it on time. Visit Vote.org to learn about your state’s timeline for sending ballots, and keep in mind that USPS delays may affect your ballot’s travel time. The earlier you can get it out, the better.
Quick Links to Voting Resources:
USA Gov
Vote.org
Graphic Production Credits:
OnlyGFX.com
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