Before casting a vote this November, students need to be aware of basic voting protocol, from registering to vote in the proper location to attaining the correct photo ID.
Last week, Rock the Vote, an organization that inspires young adults to register to vote, came to Penn State to give students information on voting.
“At Penn State, every student that talked to us realized that this is their future, and they absolutely knew it was important to cast their ballot,” said Chrissy Faessen, vice president of communications and marketing for Rock the Vote.
Specifically, there is some pertinent information that students should know about voting in Pennsylvania, including the new voter ID law.
Requirements to Vote
In order to vote in the upcoming election, it is essential that students over the age of 18 register by the voting deadline, which is 30 days prior to the next election, according to Votes Pa.
Votes Pa. is a website that has information about voting in Pennsylvania, including how to register and information on upcoming elections.
Voters must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal or general election.
Registering to Vote in State College
Faessen encourages students to register to vote in State College as opposed to filing an absentee ballot.
“Where they live on Nov. 6 should be where they should register to vote,” she said.
In Pennsylvania, students must be a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which students want to register for at least 30 days prior to the next primary, special, municipal or general election, according to Votes Pa.
New Voter I.D. Laws
For this next election, it is required that voters bring a valid photo ID to the polls with them in order to vote.
For in-state students, a Pennsylvania driver’s license can be used as identification, but out-of-state students have to use their Penn State ID cards or a passport, according to Votes Pa.
However, students need a sticker to place on their ID cards that shows the current expiration date, according to Faessen.
At Penn State, students can obtain these stickers at the ID+ Office in 103 HUB-Robeson Center, Findlay/Johnston Commons, Pollock Commons, Redifer Commons, Simmons Hall, Waring Commons and Warnock Commons.
In order to vote this year, students must make sure they bring the appropriate I.D. to the voting polls.
