Be a Voter and Claim Your Power
Are you a high school, college student, or recent grad? Voting can be complicated if you’re not living at home, but it just takes a little planning to make sure your vote counts.
Why Vote? Only an estimated 57% of voters aged 18-34 say they are extremely likely to vote. Elections are a valuable opportunity for young people across the country to make your voices heard, support action on issues YOU care about, and grow as active voters and leaders in our democracy.
Not Voting is a Vote Against Democracy. When you and your friends don’t vote, you’re giving your voice and power to others. That’s not Democracy and that means you miss the change to take action on the issues you care most about.
Make a Plan to Vote. Visit our Voter Information page for all the details on your easy options to vote this year.
Tell Your Friends. Top barriers to voting among young people include a lack of information about how to vote and who to vote for. Sharing what you have learned with your friends is critical to helping them vote their voice.
Special Note for College Students
It can be tricky to vote in elections when you are not living at home. Here is how you can make a plan to vote:
Best option: Vote by Mail
Voting by mail gives you the most flexibility and time to return your completed ballot and have your vote count.
- Sign up to vote by mail or confirm if you’re already signed up. This gives you the most flexibility to vote.
- Confirm your voting status to determine if you are receiving a ballot in the mail or not. Contact the Clerk’s office if you are not sure.
- Check your address. Some students use their college address for ballot mailing. It is recommended you use a permanent local address.
- Make a plan. If you get a ballot in the mail at home, you have a few options:
- Have someone mail your ballot to you at school. Complete the ballot and mail it back directly to the elections office.
- Have someone mail your ballot to you at school. Complete the ballot and mail it back home. If you have someone put it into a drop box for you, they must complete the bearer’s portion of the ballot.
- Timing is critical. It is recommended to use priority mail or Fed-Ex to ensure timely returning of your ballot.
Second Choice: Early Vote
Early voting periods usually last just over a week and include weekend options. You can plan a trip home during the early voting period and make your vote count.
Learn more about Early Voting.
Last Chance: Vote on Election Day
While voting in person on election day is a popular choice, it can be costly and risky to leave it to the last minute.
If you want to Vote in person on election day, find your location here. Polls are open 6 am to 8 pm.