Election Day is right around the corner.
This November, the U.S. presidential election will take place, along with numerous state and local elections.
According to The Campus Vote Project, college students make up about 21 percent of eligible voters in this election.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in ballots have become an increasingly popular option for voters, according to the United States Postal Service.
Thomas Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service explained in a July letter that mail-in ballots returned within Florida’s deadlines may not arrive in time to be counted, with election officials in numerous states receiving similar letters. The letter advises voters to return mail-in ballots by Oct. 27, one week before Election Day.
Florida residents can register to vote at www.registertovoteflorida.gov. Out-of-state students have the option of utilizing absentee ballots. Sophomore Daniel Gierlach, an aerospace engineering major, said he will be voting in Michigan using an absentee ballot.
Brevard residents also have the option of in-person voting or early voting at a local polling precinct. www.votebrevard.gov provides a tool to locate your precinct. Palm Bay resident Jesus Aviles, a junior studying IT management, said he will be voting at his local precinct.
Texas native Thomas McHenry, a junior studying aeronautical science with flight, also anticipates voting at his local Brevard County precinct.
“With my Florida driver’s license, I can avoid the hassle that comes with Texas absentee voting,” McHenry said.
According to vote.org, Texas residents must provide an excuse to request an absentee ballot. Only those who are 65 and older, disabled, confined in jail, or out of state on election day are eligible to apply.
One resource for obtaining an absentee ballot is vote.org. This website enables voters to request an absentee ballot, register to vote, or check their registration status. College students can request an absentee ballot in all 50 states.
Voting resources mentioned in this article:
Florida voting registration: registertovoteflorida.gov
Precinct locator: www.votebrevard.gov
Obtaining absentee ballot: vote.org