In case you somehow missed it, we’re in the midst of a big election season, leading up to the midterm general election on Nov. 3. The midterms occur at the halfway point in a presidential term and are incredibly important in determining how our country is run, with the ballots cast determining members of Congress, along with state and local matters. With so many Gen Zers reaching the age where they can vote in their first election, it’s important to make sure you understand all of the voting options available to you, especially considering the power Gen Z holds in making decisions for our country.Â
With all that in mind, there’s no excuse not to vote, even if you’re away at college and not registered to vote in the state where you live, or you have back-to-back classes you can’t miss on Election Day. There are plenty of ways to ensure your vote gets counted, including early and absentee voting.
Here’s a breakdown of both options.
Early Voting
Early voting is a great option for someone who lives near their polling location, but can’t make it to the poll on election day. A total of 47 states offer no-excuse early voting, an option that allows anyone to vote early without stating why they can’t cast their ballot on Election Day, with some states even opening the polls on weekends for early voters. This is a perfect option for someone with a busy class schedule on Nov. 3, who still lives close enough to their polling location to cast their vote a few days early.Â
The rules are different from state to state, with some guidelines changing based on your local election office, so it’s important to make sure you check when and if early voting is available in your area. Every state does require voter identification to vote early, so make sure you bring a valid ID when you head to your polling location.Â
Absentee Voting
If you’re living abroad or go to school in a different area from where you’re registered to vote, absentee voting might be the best option for you. Every state offers some form of absentee voting for those who aren’t physically in the area where they’re registered on Nov. 3 but still want to cast their vote.Â
If you live in a state with all-mail voting, every voter receives a mail-in ballot by default before Election Day and then generally puts their ballot in a designated drop box or mails it into their election office. In these states, you don’t need to do anything to make sure you get your mail-in ballot; simply wait for it to arrive at your doorstep. Â
In other states, you must request a mail-in ballot. The rules differ on this form of voting from state to state, with some places willing to send ballots at your request without requiring an excuse, while others require voters to meet certain criteria, asking voters to explain why they can’t make it to the polls in person on Election Day.Â
In most cases, one of these options will work for students who can’t make it to the polls on Nov. 3, regardless of your circumstances. Just be sure to check your local guidelines to make sure you find the option that works best for you, so that you can make sure your voice is heard in the upcoming election.