Voter Registration and Democracy Day
Dear Carnegie Mellon Students,
We write today to underscore the responsibility for all eligible CMU community members to register and make a plan to vote in the upcoming November election. Voting is an impactful method to communicate your priorities and values to elected officials at the local, state and national levels.
For those wishing to vote in Pennsylvania, the deadline to register to vote is October 23, 2023. You may register online or stop by the SLICE office in the Cohon University Center to grab a paper registration form. Requests for Pennsylvania absentee ballots must be submitted by 5 p.m. on October 31, 2023. For those wishing to vote outside of Pennsylvania, we encourage you to check your registration status and register if needed.
Once you are registered to vote, make sure you have a voting plan in place, whether you plan to vote by mail or in person. SLICE’s Voter Resources webpage has information on how to submit your mail-in ballot. For those choosing to vote in person, we encourage you to confirm your polling location in advance.
Local elections greatly impact policy, just as state and national elections do, and are often decided by a small margin of votes. Before voting, learn more about the local elections on your ballot and be sure to research the candidates.
Please also save the date for Carnegie Mellon’s first Democracy Day on Tuesday, November 7, which will include a series of programs and discussions on civic service and democracy. As part of Democracy Day, we encourage you to sign up to be a poll worker on Election Day.
If you are an international student, we encourage you to remind your friends that this election affects everyone at CMU and encourage those who are eligible to vote to make their voting plan.
The right to vote is only powerful if it is exercised. Ensure your voice is heard!
Kyle Hynes
Undergraduate Student Senate President
Hannah Morin
Graduate Student Assembly President
Gina Casalengo
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students