UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Voting in local, state and national elections is one of the most important responsibilities of an engaged citizen. Penn State encourages eligible students to register to vote, research candidates’ platforms, and fulfill their civic duty.
An estimated 50% of young people (ages 18-29) voted in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). College-aged voters have the power to sway an election.
Each state holds a Primary Election between February and September to nominate candidates for the subsequent November General Election. Primary Elections allow voters to select the major party nominees for each public office for which there is an election in November. Voters must be registered as a Democrat or Republican to select candidates in the Pennsylvania Primary Election and can select candidates only from their registered party. Those registered as Independents or another political party will be able to vote on only local ballot questions, if applicable. After the Primary Elections, the General Election will be held on Nov. 8.
Deadline to register to vote
The deadline to register to vote in the May 17 Pennsylvania Primary Election is May 2.
Students may register to vote in Pennsylvania — where they live for most of the year and where many issues affect them — or register to vote in their home state. If you’re not sure where to register and vote, visit the PSU Votes page on the Student Affairs website for information to help you make a decision.
It is recommended that students check their registration status to make sure their address and voting location are correct. Students voting in Pennsylvania can check their registration at the PA Voter Registration website, and those voting out-of-state can do so via Vote411.
In-person voting
Polls will be open for the Pennsylvania Primary Election from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 17. If you’re registered to vote in Pennsylvania, you can find your polling place at either the PA Voter Registration website or by contacting your county’s Election Office.
Mail-in ballots
Pennsylvania voters can request an absentee or mail-in ballot online. Absentee ballots are for individuals who plan to be out of their municipality on election day or have a disability or illness that prevents them from going to their polling place on election day. Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot without providing a reason. Applicants for both absentee and mail-in ballots must supply their name, address, phone number, and email address, as well as a driver’s license number or an identification card number issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
A drop by for mail-in ballots for Centre County elections is available in front of the HUB-Robeson Center.
For the Pennsylvania Primary Election, deadlines are:
- Apply for a mail-in ballot: The deadline for your county election board to receive your application for absentee or mail-in ballots is 5 p.m. on May 10.
- Mail your ballot: Your absentee or mail-in ballot must be received by your county election office by 8 p.m. on May 17.
In case of an emergency, such as illness, disability or last-minute absence from your municipality, voters can request an Emergency Absentee Ballot after 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election. The deadline to submit your Emergency Absentee Ballot Application to the County Election Board is 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Students and primary elections
For more information on voting as a college student, visit psuvotes.psu.edu. The Center for Character, Conscience, and Public Purpose, a unit of Student Affairs, also provides support and programming for voting efforts on campus and in the local community.
Want to get more involved in the voting process? Complete the application to be a PSU Votes Ambassador by Aug. 1. Selected students will play a key role in the University’s nonpartisan program during the 2022-23 academic year.