Stressed about voting? Here's a few helpful tidbits to know

With the 2024 presidential elections coming up in a couple of months, the question of how to vote is a topic most college students are wondering about.

Individuals’ voter registration correlates to where they live. For students, this can be their hometown or college town.

According to vote.gov, college students should consider these three concepts when deciding where to vote: which location is more convenient for them, who is on the ballot in each place and any local policies or particular issues important to them.

“It is important to vote in any elections that you are able to,” said Jayden McQueen, a junior political science major and leadership development minor from Crestview, Florida who is also team leader of the civic lab and democracy project initiatives. “Your voice matters, and voting is a fundamental right that unfortunately gets taken for granted.

“Voting is an essential part of being a United States citizen as it is how we communicate with our government on what we care about.”

An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who can't vote at their official polling location, which is determined by what address they registered to vote with. This person may not have transportation to that polling location, or they are temporarily living somewhere far from the polling location.

Some states allow individuals to ask for an absentee ballot if they are unable to vote in person or would simply prefer to vote by mail. For Troy, Alabama, absentee voting can be done at the Pike County Judicial Complex.

The Office of Civic Engagement encourages students who don't go home on Nov. 5 to vote in the election to register to vote in Pike County (Alabama residents only) or visit their state's official website, read the absentee voting rules and apply for an absentee ballot.

“I am voting absentee because I have class the day of voting,” said Abby Weems, a senior nursing major from Birmingham, Alabama. “Since I won't be able to be home and vote, I’ve decided to do this.”

Other students agree.

  “I think everyone should register to vote if they can,” said Dawson Corwin, student government association’s senator of the College of Business who is a senior RMI major from Montgomery, Alabama. “Having a voice is important, and we have the blessing to be able to vote.

“That's our right and our privilege.”

From now through November, students will have the opportunity to attend voter registration events that will be held by departments and organizations on campus.

“I'm voting in my hometown because I just feel like it's just more important for me to be able to go back home and just choose who I want to represent the country,” said Chance Brooks, a freshman communications major from Atlanta, Georgia. “Since we're of age now, we should be able to exercise the right to vote and choose whoever we feel like can lead our country.”

For more information on absentee ballots, voter registration and why it is important to vote, visit allintovote.org.