In two months, many UP students will have their first chance to vote in an election with both presidential and congressional races on the ballot. Voting for the first time can be daunting, especially for college students who are balancing classes and extracurriculars on top of learning how to vote.
To make this process easier, The Beacon compiled all the necessary information into one article.
Step 1: Choosing where to register
The first step of voter registration is deciding which state you want to vote in: your home state or Oregon.
Several factors may inform your choice. There may be local politics at play or certain bills you are passionate about voting on. Whatever your interest, students are able to register in either state, so the choice is up to you.
If you are unsure whether to vote in your home state or Oregon, visit Vote. gov’s website to help you decide.
Step 2: Registering
Oregon residents or out-of-state students who decide to register in Oregon must complete this form by Oct. 15. To register to vote in Oregon, you must have a residential address, which can include your dorm room or off-campus housing.
If you are an out-of-state resident and want to register in your home state, check your state's registration deadline here.
If you are studying abroad this semester, you can still vote. Follow all guidelines for how to register in your home state or in Oregon and then visit the Federal Voting Assistance Programs website to request your ballot.
To register to vote in the state of your choosing or check your registration status, visit Vote.org’s website here.
Step 3: Getting involved in on-campus events
Registering to vote is an important step, but staying informed and engaging in meaningful conversation with your community is crucial for preparing yourself to vote.
According to Anne Santiago, dean of the political science department and the Dundon-Berchtold faculty fellow for constructive dialogue, voting requires in-depth research on candidates and educating yourself on the policies they support.
“My pitch to students is to get involved,” Santiago said. “You're not going to change everything, but find something that is really important to you and work on that. That's the way that you can have influence in the political system.”
To encourage students to educate themselves on this year’s election, UP is hosting several events in collaboration with Vote UP, an organization spearheaded by Elizabeth Parkman that aims to promote voter education and registration at UP.
Vote UP’s first event of the election season will be a watch party for the presidential debate, held on Sept. 10 in the Pilot House at 6 p.m.
“We're going to try and have bingo cards [for when people say things on the debate stage] and then maybe have a couple prizes,” Santiago said. “And afterwards, or at any point, just have some discussion, and I'll be available.”
Once you have registered, researched and attended a few events, you will be ready to cast your vote on Nov. 5.
Netty Jurriaans is the Community Engagement Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at jurriaan25@up.edu.
Kalena O’Connell is a News Reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at oconnell27@up.edu
