How to Vote as a College Student
Whether you're attending college in your home state, or you've moved across the country, it's important you know how to properly vote! While you can technically be a resident of two different states, you can only vote in one.
Voting as a College Student in Oklahoma
Whether you're a native Oklahoman or an out-of-stater attending college here, you can vote in Oklahoma. Each state has its own space on vote.org with information you'll need to make sure you're registered to vote. If you live out-of-state and decide to vote in Oklahoma, you won't need to request an absentee ballot, but you will need to register. Allow plenty of lead time for your polling information and voter registration card to be sent to you in the mail!
If you live in Oklahoma, but your hometown is not Oklahoma City or Edmond, you have a couple options! Your polling location depends on your home address. So, if your family lives in Tulsa, your polling place will be in Tulsa. If you can't get back home, you may consider requesting an Oklahoma absentee ballot. With an absentee ballot, you can vote via your dorm room! You will just take your ballot to the mail room once you've voted. However, if you'd like to vote in your home town, you can! Just double check your polling place and that you have your voter registration card.
Voting as a College Student from Out-of-State
OC is blessed with so many students from around the country! While you could go home for voting, it is likely more convenient for you to vote absentee. First, make sure you're registered to vote in your home state! Then, request your absentee ballot. You will not be automatically sent your ballot if you don't request it, so make sure you request soon to allow time for it to be mailed to you and for you to mail it back!
Voting as a College Student in a Pandemic
COVID-19 changed many of our systems, including voting. Fortunately, we're here to help navigate the uncertainty.
If you're already set to vote absentee, you're already voting by mail, so there's no need to request a mail-in ballot. However, mail time may slow down, so you want to be sure you leave you and the mail plenty of time for you to successfully vote.
If you intend to vote in your hometown's elections or in our local election and want to request a mail-in ballot, be sure to do that ASAP! Oklahoma does not require an excuse to vote by mail, but others do. Check with your state.
If you have any other questions, check out vote.org. We'll see you at the polls November 3!
