September 19 is National Voter’s Registration Day!
September 19 is National Voters Registration Day, the nation’s biggest nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to making sure every eligible American is registered and #VoteReady.
Since its inception in 2012, National Voter Registration Day has helped register over 5 million Americans.
Between state and local elections as well as the quickly approaching presidential primaries and the general election in 2024, it is a great time to make sure you’re registered to vote and prepared for election season. This is especially true for college students as they face a unique set of obstacles when it comes to voting.
Navigating the student voting process may seem daunting but don’t worry, HBCU Buzz has got you covered. Here is a College Student’s Guide to Voting!
How To Cast Your Vote as a College Student
Begin the voter registration process by visiting vote.gov. There you can register to vote, check and update your registration status, and find voter registration deadlines.
Many students registered in their home state and attending school out of state opt for submitting absentee ballots (also called mail-in and vote-by-mail ballots). Sending in an absentee ballot means you don’t need to travel to your hometown polling location in order to vote. Make sure you follow your state’s deadlines for requesting and returning your absentee ballot. Also, note whether the deadline is for when your ballot must be postmarked or for when it must be received by the elections office.
However, if you maintain a permanent or temporary residence in the state where you attend college, you can change your voter registration to that state so you can vote in person. Remember that registering to vote in more than one state is illegal – either register where your permanent home is located or the state where you attend school.
Be informed by checking where your polling place is by visiting your state’s election office website.
Using Your Student ID To Vote
Twenty-two states allow students to vote using a college student ID, while others require students to bring additional identification with them.
Ahead of the 2024 election, Republican-controlled states have targeted college students’ voting power through new proposals to change photo ID requirements for high school and college students.
For example, laws enacted in Idaho this year prohibit the use of student IDs to register to vote or cast ballots. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Idaho will join the following list of states that prohibit student IDs as acceptable forms of identification to vote: North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas
In Georgia, Arizona, Indiana, and Wyoming, students can use an ID issued only by a state public college or university if it has a photo.
As Georgia bars the use of student IDs from private universities, it has made it more difficult for students attending Atlanta HBCUs, Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, and Spelman and Morehouse College to participate in Georgia’s competitive US Senate and presidential elections, according to voting rights advocates.
In Ohio, a new law further restricted substitute voter ID options by prohibiting utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks, and other documents that students have used before.
In Texas, GOP state Rep. Carrie Isaac introduced a bill in February to prohibit polling places on college campuses. This bill has not yet made it out of committee.
According to BestColleges, states that allow student ID+ are:
Arizona
- Student ID Status:
- Public college or university ID + Photo + Document with physical address
- Voting Rights Lab Note:
- “While Arizona law provides that student IDs issued by a public university may be used to vote if they include a photo and address, it does not appear that any of the state’s public colleges issue student ID cards that meet this criteria.”
Alabama
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Arkansas
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Georgia
- Student ID Status:
- Public college or university ID + Photo
Iowa
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo + Unexpired expiration date + Document with proof of residence
- Voting Rights Lab Note:
- “If there is no address on the ID card (which is the case for student IDs in Iowa), it must be paired with a secondary document proving address (e.g., lease, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, etc.).”
Indiana
- Student ID Status:
- Public college or university ID + Photo + Unexpired expiration date
Kansas
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Kentucky
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Mississippi
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
North Carolina
- Student ID Status:
Utah
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Document with proof of residence
- Voting Rights Lab Note:
- “A Utah student ID may only be used as voter ID if paired with other documentation that, when combined, prove name and current residence (e.g., utility bill, bank statement, birth certificate, employee ID card, etc.)”
Wisconsin
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo + Unexpired expiration date + Signature + Issue date
- Voting Rights Lab Note:
- “If a Wisconsin student ID card is expired, it may still be used if in conjunction with a separate document that proves current enrollment, such as a tuition fee receipt, enrollment verification letter, or class schedule.”
Wyoming
- Student ID Status:
- Public college or university ID + Photo
States that allow Student ID+ on a Provisional Ballot are:
Alaska
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Colorado
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Florida
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo + Signature required
- Voting Rights Lab Note:
- “If the student ID lacks a signature, the student may still use it if coupled with a second document that has their signature.”
Missouri
- Student ID Status:
- Public college or university ID + Photo + Unexpired expiration date
Montana
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Oklahoma
- Student ID Status:
- Public college or university ID + Photo + Unexpired expiration date
Rhode Island
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Washington
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
West Virginia
- Student ID Status:
- Student ID + Photo
Learn About Your Voter Rights and Requirements
It’s important to know your voting rights as a student and advocate for yourself if they have been violated.
There are various voting rights organizations that can help you if you’ve been wronged, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, FairVote, and Ballot Ready. You can also contact your county clerk’s office and the Department of Justice.
Remember that your vote matters! Your vote has the power to make a significant difference in elections. Taking the time to register and vote may seem like a demanding task on top of schoolwork and classes but exercising your democratic right is worth it in the end.
