HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania is home to nearly 300 colleges, universities, and technical schools. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of students who attend any of these institutions and are eligible to vote, you have options for doing so in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election.
Whether you are voting for the first time, choosing to vote by mail, or simply updating your registration, here’s everything you need to know about how to cast a ballot as a college student in Pennsylvania.
Can I vote in Pennsylvania as a college student? Yes, as long as you meet the requirements to register to vote in Pennsylvania. You must: Be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election. Be a resident of your election district for at least 30 days before the next election. Be at least 18 on Election Day. If you meet those requirements, you can choose the address at which you register – though you can pick only one. You can register to vote where you currently live, whether it’s on or off campus, or at your prior home address, as long as you still have family or a guardian who resides there.
If you register at your prior home address and plan to vote in person, it’s important to consider how feasible it will be to travel to your polling place. Plan your Election Day accordingly and remember that as long as you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot.
If I am new to Pennsylvania and moved here to attend college, can I still register to vote with my college address? As long as you have lived in the voting district where you plan to vote for at least 30 days before the election, you can register with your college address.
What if I live off campus? If you live off campus, you can use that address to register to vote.
What if I moved to a new address on or off campus? If you are already registered to vote, have moved to a new address, and would like to vote from this address, you must update your voter registration by Oct. 19. If you move within Pennsylvania less than 30 days before an election, you have to vote at the polling place for your old address.
Am I eligible to vote if I turn 18 on Election Day? As long as you meet the additional requirements of being a United States citizen and being a resident of the election district where you plan to register for at least 30 days, you are eligible to vote if you are at least 18 years old on or before Election Day. This is true whether it’s a primary, special, municipal, or general election.
The last day to register to vote for the upcoming general election is Oct. 19.
I’m voting for the first time. How do I prepare and what should I expect? Voting for the first time is exciting! If you plan to vote in person, look up your polling place ahead of time and plan when and how you will get there. You can make it an activity and bring your friends and family if they will be voting at the same location. In Pennsylvania, polls open at 7 a.m., and as long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you are allowed to cast your vote. When you vote for the first time at a new location, you need to show a photo or non-photo ID, so make sure you have that with you. It’s good practice to take a look at a sample ballot ahead of time by visiting your local county website. This will inform you what races you will be voting
