UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the 2023 municipal election draws nearer, Penn State students are reminded of the importance of taking part in their civic responsibility to vote.
The municipal election will take place Nov. 7. In Pennsylvania, voters will be selecting statewide justices and judges along with a variety of local county positions and school board positions.
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 has a website to assist students in the voter registration and voting process, PSU Votes.
Students can vote in-person or via mail-in or absentee ballots. Pennsylvania permits mail-in ballots for anyone registered to vote in the state regardless of reason, but voters also cam fill out an absentee ballot to indicate their reason for not voting at the polls if they so choose.
How to find your polling location
To vote in person, you can only vote at your assigned polling location, which is based on the address where you are registered to vote. Those voting in Centre County can find their polling location at the state voter services website or by entering their address at VOTE411. Community members can make use of the CATA bus system if they need transportation to their polling site.
Students who live in on-campus housing at University Park and are registered to vote at their on-campus address will vote at the HUB-Robeson Center, except for those registered at and living in the White Course Apartments, who will vote at the nearby Weston Community Center.
All polling locations in Pennsylvania will be open for voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 7. Those voting for the first time, or voting at a new polling location, must bring a valid form of ID with them. Acceptable forms of photo identification include a Penn State student ID, driver’s license, PennDOT ID, or U.S. Passport. A full list of acceptable IDs is available here.
How to vote by mail
Mail-in and absentee ballot requests must be received by the appropriate county election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31. Mail-in and absentee ballots can be requested at this link, by submitting an application for a mail-in ballot, or by visiting the correct county election office.
Students registered and voting in Centre Country can drop off their mail-in or absentee ballots in the ballot box by the Pollock Road entrance of the HUB-Robeson Center no later than 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6. Only Centre County ballots may be placed in the HUB-Robeson Center ballot box.
Ballots for other Pennsylvania counties must be mailed to the appropriate county elections office or deposited at their designated county drop-off location. Students registered and voting in Pennsylvania but outside of Centre County can check the location and collection deadlines of their county ballot box and drop-off locations here.
Students seeking to vote in another state can learn about their mail-in and absentee voting options at Vote.gov. Deadlines for other states are available at VOTE411.
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 & 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.
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.