Griffin Larson

Less than half of eligible voters aged 18-24 voted in the 2020 election, the lowest out of any age group. Young people have unique perspectives and important mindsets, making them an important demographic in our nations elections.

With both national and local elections coming up in November, newly 18 year old students get to engage in one of the biggest civic responsibilities citizens have: Voting. On November 5th, the nation will elect the 47th president, as well as a number of other candidates in local and state elections. In order to participate, students must be over 18 by November 5th, and registered to vote. Pre registration is closed as of October 15th, meaning if a voter hasn’t registered yet, they must plan to register on election day. There are multiple different ways that you can verify yourself and your residence on election day, including a driver’s license, university ID, voucher, and more. 

In order to vote in person on November 5th, students must go to their designated polling place, which is determined by home address. Polling places are open from 7 am to 8 pm. As long as you are in line by 8 pm, you are able to vote after the 8 pm deadline. To find your polling place go here.

It is also possible to vote through an absentee ballot, which allows you to complete your ballot before election day. Early voting started September 20th, and will end November 4th. This can be completed by mail or in person at a local elections office. 

Students aged 16 and older are able to participate as election judges in their county, regardless of whether they are eligible to vote. Election judges complete a 3 hour training, and are then able to work on election day for a polling place. They are responsible for helping local voters register and vote, as well as helping manage the polling place. Students can use this for community service hours or for pay. More information here. 

While the presidential election is largely in the public eye, there are multiple other elections that are taking place in November, including elections for senators, representatives, school board, and court judges. Depending on your neighborhood, district, and address, ballots can look different and have different candidates for certain elections. You can view your district’s sample ballot here. 

Voting is an opportunity to use your voice and participate in local and national politics. Young people have unique perspectives and important mindsets regarding the topics raging around our nation today, and the political sphere benefits from hearing from young people. Despite this, less than half of eligible voters aged 18-24 voted in the 2020 election, the lowest out of any age group (Statista). No matter the candidates you choose to support, participating in voting helps greater represent the opinions and voices in our country.