Voting Resources: Let Your Voice Be Heard November 6th!
Tuesday, October 9th is the last day to register to vote!
By Sarah Pesi, VP of External Affairs AY18-19
Midterm elections are happening across the United States in November. Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh have some important races including: Governor, US Senator, and other important local elections. Voting is critical to ensuring our democracy matches the values we hold, and college age individuals are a huge voting block: 18-35 year olds make up 31% of the voting eligible population on par with the Baby Boomer generation1. Unfortunately, millenials and younger people tend to have the lowest voter turnout.
Federal elections impact graduate student because the federal government controls significant issues graduate students care, including student aid, research funding, and immigration issues. State and local elections also have significant impact on graduate students’ day to day lives while they attending school, such as transportation, water quality, voting, and housing issues.
We hope you will consider voting in the upcoming PA elections. Pennsylvania elections will be happening November 6th and the last day to register in Pennsylvania is October 9th. The last day to get an absentee ballot in Pennsylvania is October 30th. College students have the option to use their home address or current school address (dorm or apartment).
You can find important information on your polling place, registering online, updating your address online, checking your voter registration status, and requesting an absentee ballot here. If you are not registered in Pennsylvania and are keeping your home address from another state you can find important deadlines and information here.
Other local voting resources which may be helpful include a service called Turbovote where you can receive text reminders and information about upcoming elections. Additionally Governor Wolf created a Pennsylvania Know Your Rights Guide so you know your rights this upcoming election. PUMP (Pennsylvania Urban Magnet Project) has information on voting resources and upcoming educational events about the election. The League of Women Voters also has a resource to a personalized sample ballot where you can see the candidates on your upcoming ticket. Lastly, learn how to volunteer for the election, information on running for office, rules governing the elections, financial disclosures of candidates, and election results here with information from Election Division of Allegheny County. Other ways to participate in the election include helping to register others to vote and working on a campaign. Your voice matters and we hope you will let your voice be heard this November and beyond!
1. https://www.npr.org/2016/05/16/478237882/millennials-now-rival-boomers-as-a-political-force-but-will-they-actually-vote and https://civicyouth.org/quick-facts/youth-voting/