Written by: Amy Van Arsdell
Editor’s Note: The Accent is publishing this article, written by a senior history major at Southern, to provide information to students and community members about the voting process and help them prepare for the upcoming elections. This article is informative in nature and not written like or considered a news article.
Do you want to make your community and your country better? Lucky for you, this year has an upcoming national election that will be the first presidential election for many students.
However, according to a survey conducted by Tufts University, only 66% of college students voted in the 2020 election. Despite youth voting increasing in the 2020 election, overall low youth turnout is likely because many students attend colleges out-of-state and don’t know if or how they can vote.
As long as you are over 18 and an eligible citizen of the United States, “YOU CAN VOTE!” Every state has its own deadlines and requirements for voting, so the following is only a rough guide to get you started. Nov. 5 will be here before we know it, and some registration deadlines are even sooner.
If you are from a state other than Tennessee, you should learn about the absentee voting process in your home state. This will help you decide whether you want to register with your home address and vote by mail, or if you would rather register with your university address and vote in person in Collegedale.
- Register to Vote
Unless you live in North Dakota, you’re required to register to become a voter before you can vote. Only 23 states have some form of automatic voter registration, usually through a form at the DMV or other state agency. If you think that you are already registered to vote, it’s worth checking to ensure that you are still registered as states sometimes purge voter rolls.
Your state may let you register to vote online, or you may have to mail in a registration application. Thirty-six states also have varying voter ID requirements. To complicate matters, every state has its own voter registration deadline, from as soon as Oct. 6 to Election Day. Vote.org, a nonpartisan organization, will help you check the status of your voter registration and redirect you to your state’s voter website. You can also Google “(Your state) + voter registration.”
Registering to Vote in Tennessee
To register online, you must have a Tennessee driver’s license or Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security ID. If you don’t, you will have to submit a paper registration application and use a federal photo ID such as a passport at your polling place. All forms of voter registration must be received by Oct. 7.
It’s possible that changing your residency from a different state to register in Tennessee could affect your eligibility for residency-related scholarships and grants.
Tennessee only allows absentee voting-by-mail for specific circumstances, including if you’re a full-time student at a university outside of the county where you are registered. If you are eligible, your application for a by-mail ballot must be received by mail, fax, or email no later than October 29.
- Request an Absentee Ballot
If you decide to register to vote using your residency in a state other than Tennessee, or if you aren’t from Hamilton County, you’ll need to request an absentee vote-by-mail ballot that will be mailed straight to your Southern mailing address. In the handful of states that have all-mail elections, this may be as simple as changing your mailing address. Some states may require you to provide a “valid” excuse for needing an absentee ballot in a separate application. Requesting an absentee ballot has a separate deadline that varies from state to state, but you’ll want to be sure to do so with enough time for it to be mailed to you before Election Day and for you to mail it back in time to be counted. Even student missionaries and students studying abroad can vote this year by requesting an overseas ballot.
- Make a Voting Plan
If you’re voting absentee in your home state, make sure you know the absentee ballot return deadline: In some states your ballot must be received by a certain time on Election Day, and in other states it only needs to be postmarked by Election Day. You should also be prepared to pay postage to return your absentee ballot if your state doesn’t provide pre-paid return envelopes.
If you’re going to vote in-person in Tennessee, you will need to go to the specific polling place of the precinct you live in, which you can locate using the GoVoteTN app or website. In Hamilton County, the early voting period is Monday through Saturday, Oct. 16-31. If you’d prefer to vote on Election Day, Nov. 5, be prepared to stand in line for several hours waiting to vote. Make sure you take a federal or Tennessee state ID with your name and photograph on it with you—your college student ID is considered unacceptable!
- Vote!
If you aren’t sure who you want to vote for in the presidential election or other races, it is legal to leave blanks for some races on your ballot. It’s better to vote than not at all, and your local elected representatives such as your state senator or your mayor may make policies that affect your life more than the decisions of federal officials. If you want to learn more about what and who is on your ballot, read the candidates’ websites, check if your state publishes official voter guides or search Ballotpedia.org, a nonpartisan organization that provides information on most candidates from the local to the federal level.
According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the United States has secure and reliable elections, and there is no evidence of increased voter fraud from absentee ballots.Your vote is completely confidential—not even your family members will know who you voted for unless you tell them. Your vote is your voice: Use it!
Writer’s note: If you have any questions about the voting process, please feel free to contact me at amyv@southern.edu, and it would be my pleasure to help you!