What College-Age Voters Need To Know About Early Voting

Early voting is underway for the November general election. Over 54,000 people completed a ballot on the first day of early voting, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Young voters had high turnout for the 2020 election, although this year’s level of engagement is uncertain. A 45-day early voting period might drive participation, but election officials say there are a few key things to know, and to have a plan in place.

The national student voting rate was 66% in the last presidential election, a 14-point increase, according to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement data, or NSLVE. This nearly matched the estimated national voter turnout rate, according to the data.

Another 2020 voting trend was that students ages 18-21, or likely first-time voters, voted at a slightly higher rate than older students, according to NSLVE data.

The student voting rate dropped to 31.3% for the 2022 federal election, known as the midterm. Nationwide, turnout is usually lower during midterms.

Adeline Sajko is a freshman at William & Mary, a college in Williamsburg. Sajko is from the Harrisonburg area. This will be the first election she votes in, but she feels uninformed about the process.

“I’ve never seen or been provided with an example of what it looks like,” Sajko said. “So I’m kind of going into the unknown.”

That won’t discourage her from voting, but she knows she will have to research and be “self-sufficient.” Voting every year is important, although her family has emphasized the importance of voting this year, she said.

“I feel like it’s the most crucial it has been in a while,” Sajko said. “I think as part of the younger generation, I think we all kind of recognized that.”

Alexandra Reckendorf is an associate professor and associate chair of the political science department at Virginia Commonwealth University. She co-teaches a class called VCU Votes, which encourages civic engagement and helps students become more familiar with the voting process.

A goal is to help drive participation in off-year state and local races.

“VCU Votes is really concerned about how to create voters every year, so not just in a presidential year,” Reckendorf said.

Younger voters often underestimate what they know about politics, in comparison to older voters, Reckendorf said. They need to give themselves more credit and “stop being gaslit by older generations that you are not prepared to participate in politics.”

Older adults are not necessarily more informed, but they vote regardless.

“They don’t care; they’re going to vote anyway, because it’s a habit,” Reckendorf said. “They know that on Election Day, they go out and vote. They know that their numbers still matter.”

Young voters need to make at least one voting plan, she said.

“If you don’t early vote, you can absentee vote,” Reckendorf said. “If you can’t absentee vote, you can vote on Election Day. But if you just have one plan and you miss it, you miss it.”

Early voting is a convenient way to participate, without facing large crowds or taking time off work, according to spokespersons Katherin Cardozo and Selna Shi with the Richmond City Office of Elections.

“Having that 45 days before actual Election Day gives a lot of people the leeway to find a time to actually go vote,” Shi said.

Still, first-time voters might choose to vote on Election Day because of the “hype” and excitement, and because the results come in later that day, Cardozo said.

Election Day is a holiday for state employees, but otherwise there is no mandate for employers to give workers paid time off to vote.

First-year students had registration and process questions at a recent tabling event at VCU, according to Shi.

Students in dorms need to be sure they use the correct mailing address, which can be different from their building address. Those living in dorms need to put their room numbers down, and double check the correct zip code, according to Shi.

Specific information voters need to know:

Where do I register? Online at the state Department of Elections website, at the Department of Motor Vehicles or through a candidate’s campaign, a political party or a political outreach organization.

Vote at college, or hometown? Depends on convenience, what is on the ballot, where you are registered, and personal choice. In-state students can register to vote with their current address, or vote in hometown. Out-of-state students can be registered in only one state, and need to registered in Virginia to vote here. If they vote back home they must request an absentee ballot for their hometown, or travel back.

How do I vote early? Check your local registrar’s office to vote in person, or request a mail ballot. Your early voting location is not usually the same as an Election Day location.

What do I bring when I vote? One form of identification, including any DMV-issued ID card, student ID, or passport. Or, a current utility bill with name and address can be used. The full list of acceptable identification can be found on the state Elections website.

What is on the ballot? Six presidential candidates on the Virginia ballot. Also, two congressional races per ballot, including one Senate and one House of Representative seat. Local races such as mayor or city council, but it depends on the voter’s location. An amendment to the Virginia constitution. Checking “yes” would allow surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the line of duty to receive a real property tax exemption. Checking “no” keeps the exemption with surviving spouses of soldiers who were killed in action.

Key dates: Voter registration ends Tuesday, Oct. 15, but same-day registration is still allowed. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 25. Early voting ends on Saturday, Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Mailed ballots must be received by noon on Friday, Nov. 8.

See other detailed voting information here.

By Cruz Walden
Capital News Service

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.