UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With Pennsylvania governor and U.S. Senate positions up for grabs in the general election this November, Penn State reminds students to register to vote in the University community or in their hometown.
On Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., students can learn more about the election and register to vote during the HUB takeover. The event will include nonpartisan registration and election information tables as well as tabling by politically affiliated student organizations. Throughout the day, the event will feature speakers, games, a DJ in the Noontime Lounge, free giveaways, cookies and a Berkey Creamery ice cream cart.
“Voting is by far the one clear way we can influence our government — by voting who will represent us in making these important decisions,” said Tim Balliett, director of the Center for Character, Conscience, and Public Purpose. “It’s important to remember that 18-to-29-year-olds are the largest voting block currently in the U.S. population. Your say makes a tremendous difference and can greatly influence the outcome of an election. Oftentimes, students think about presidential election years, but midterm elections are also critical. These are very important offices that will set our state and national agenda for the next four to six years.”
Penn State has a website called PSU Votes to assist students in the voter registration and voting process.
Voter registration
The general election is open to all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation.
Students have the right to register to vote in the Penn State-State College area — where they spend most of their time during the academic year — or in their hometown. When choosing where to register, students may consider which local races are of most interest and where they feel most connected to their community. Students may register in only one location.
Those interested in registering to vote anywhere in Pennsylvania can do so in a matter of minutes via the state voter services website. Students who call another state home can learn how to register to vote in their hometown at Vote.gov.
Oct. 24 is the last day for students to register to vote in the 2022 general election in Pennsylvania. Information on registration dates in other states and non-partisan voter guides can be found at VOTE411.
Students who are unsure if they are registered to vote can check their registration status online here for Pennsylvania voters. Out-of-state voters can check their registration status here.
Students seeking to vote in another state can learn how to register at Vote.gov. Registration deadlines for other states are available at VOTE411.
Mail-in ballots
Students may vote in person or via a mail-in or absentee ballot. Pennsylvania permits mail-in ballots for anyone registered to vote in the state — regardless of reason — but voters can opt for an absentee ballot to indicate their reason for not voting at the polls.
Pennsylvania also has introduced a new form that allows a person to register to vote and request a mail-in ballot at the same time.
Mail-in and absentee ballot requests must be received by the appropriate county election office at 5 p.m. on Nov. 1. Mail-in and absentee ballot requests can be made online here, by mailing in an application, or by visiting the correct county election office.
Why vote?
Voting in local, state and national elections is one of the most important duties of an engaged citizen. Young voters have the power to sway an election, as indicated by the 50% of people ages 18 to 29 who voted in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. At Penn State, 69% of students who were registered opted to vote in the 2020 election, landing the University at ninth place in voter turnout among the 14 Big Ten schools.
Local and state government decisions impact students’ lives in many ways. For example, local government makes decisions related to zoning and apartment regulations, local police and public safety ordinances, allocations for parks and recreation programs, public transportation and parking regulations. Local elections also decide district and county judges, who determine sentences for violations of the law and civil suits.
Penn State encourages eligible students to be engaged citizens by participating in elections and understanding the issues that affect them today and in the future.
“First and foremost, voting is a primary civic duty,” Balliett said. “Part of the mission of being a land-grant university is learning what it means to be a good citizen and participating and being civically minded. It’s a core part of who we are as Penn Staters.”
Voting resources at Penn State
Penn State’s Center for Character, Conscience and Public Purpose, a unit of Student Affairs, seeks to engage students in the voting process through PSU Votes.
Leading up to election day, the center will collaborate with other University organizations to host voter registration drives at the HUB-Robeson Center and various locations across campus. A voter registration and mail-in/absentee ballot application table will be available every day in the center’s office, located at 102 HUB-Robeson Center.
The center will host additional events and voter registration opportunities during National Voter Education Week, Oct. 3 to 7. There also will be a voter information session and workshop, co-sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha and the National Political Science Honor Society, at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 in 302 HUB-Robeson Center.