Article by Abby Paras '24
Photography by Zach Lutzky '24
Election season is here, and no one is able to forget it. Students can be seen encouraging others to vote at any opportunity they can, and people are frequenting campus to ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote is registered. Many students have requested and sent in their absentee ballots. With the presidential election rapidly approaching, 2020 is a crucial year, and everyone who can vote needs to do their part. Here are some important things to keep in mind as a college student in an election year.
First, you need to make sure you’re eligible to vote. What are the requirements? To register to vote in Virginia, you must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Virginia (specifically of the precinct you want to vote in), 18 years of age or older, and have no felony convictions. If you turn 18 before November 3, you are eligible to vote. If you fulfill all these requirements, then you are eligible to vote and should absolutely exercise your right. Even if you’re not a resident of Virginia, you can be registered in a different state and vote by absentee ballot.
The deadline for voter registration in Virginia is October 13.
If you’re eligible to vote, how do you go about doing so? If you’re a resident of Virginia, then you can register to vote either in Williamsburg or in your home county. If you’re not a resident of Virginia, then you can also apply for an absentee ballot in your home state. First, apply to register. Then, make sure that you fill out the appropriate forms. Virginia residents can use the Virginia Department of Elections website and out of state students can find theirs on various websites for their states. This is a crucial step and only takes minutes. If you choose to mail in your ballot, remember to account for the time it takes to send and be counted, which is close to two weeks. Make sure to send in your ballot closer to October 20 rather than on the deadline of November 3.
Students around campus, especially those who are new to the William & Mary community, are doing their best to vote under the new circumstances. Kate Ballint ‘24 says that she is “very conscious of the fact that since [she] put [her] ballot in the mail, it's out of [her] hands.”
Vicka Heidt ‘24 took a different route. She “decided to vote early (at the Municipal Building) directly following the debate as [she] wanted to make sure [her] vote was accounted for as soon as possible.”
Historically, college students have abstained from voting. Though the number of college-aged people who are voting is increasing, the number isn’t as high as it should be. There is no excuse to not vote if you are eligible. Other students at William & Mary are making resources available and people are going around Colonial Williamsburg to ensure that students are registered to vote. As students about to enter the ‘real world,’ we need to realize that we are the ones who will be affected by this election. Voting in a presidential election can have a huge impact on minority communities, especially ones that suffer from voter suppression. As college students, we have the privilege to be able to vote, and we need to use that. Of course, simply voting will not fix all of the issues that the United States is facing, but it can be a start to put the country on a better path. It’s important to exercise our rights.
Kia Morawetz ‘24 reminds students that “voting is extremely important because it’s a civic responsibility…this election will determine the future of American democracy and the fate of many American lives.”
Of course, there is a large population of students on campus who are under 18 and therefore ineligible to vote. Additionally, some students may be international, and therefore are not American citizens. Whatever the case may be, students who cannot vote shouldn’t count themselves out. There are a number of things that non-voting students can do, such as encouraging their eligible friends and family to vote and volunteering to help with campaigns or voting booths. If you are able, you can apply to work the polls on election day. Most importantly, stay educated about as many issues and politicians as possible. There will be more elections in the future, and those will be just as important. No matter what your status as a voter is, it is important to participate in the election in any way possible.