An Election You Won’t Want to Miss

In case you missed out on registering to vote on National Voter Registration Day last week, you still have time! The last day to register to vote in North Carolina through the state’s website or by mail is October 9th, but each state’s deadlines vary so be sure to double-check yours.

The process is so simple, only requiring a maximum of five minutes from your day to do. Simply search for your home state and “voter registration” to be directed to exactly where you need to be—oftentimes the state’s DMV or election portal. From then on, all you need to do is provide your driver’s license number, social security number and address and you’re all set. 

You can also take this time to determine whether you intend to vote in person or via absentee ballot, don’t forget to request yours!

As of 2018, 75.9% of Elon students were registered to vote, but our numbers could be higher. Additionally, out of that 75.9%, only 38.7% actually voted in the 2018 midterm elections. Elon students have an opportunity to improve both of these numbers this year, and Elon Votes! is working hard to do so.

According to Cate Podell, a representative of Elon Votes!, there are several factors that discourage students from registering to vote. 

“I think voter apathy, political disillusionment, and general confusion are reasons why students choose not to register,” she says. “Many students do not think their vote will count or are mentally and emotionally exhausted by politics and choose to opt-out of voting.” 

With the turbulence of the 2020 political climate, “It is crucial that we use our privilege to make our voices heard and elect officials that represent us,” Podell says.

To remedy this lack of participation, Podell suggests that we have open and reasonable conversations with our peers to discuss the purpose of voting. 

“Your vote DOES count and has a very real impact on the way our country is run not just nationally but also locally and state-wide.” 

Voting allows citizens to participate in how their country is run, so why wouldn’t we want a say? 

“There are great resources, such as the Campus Vote Project State Guide on our website www.elon.edu/vote, and TurboVote makes it super easy to register and request your absentee ballot,” says Podell.

Elon Votes! Is offering a variety of ways for students to get involved with democracy such as debate watch parties, and tabling events to make the information accessible. The dates and times for these events are available on the organization’s Instagram, @elonvotes. 

If you have any questions about registering to vote or ensuring the correct usage of your absentee ballot, don’t hesitate to reach out to Elon Votes!.

Photo from pexels.com.