MARS-JUNO SMOTHERGILL
DEI Chair
Graphic provided by the American Democracy Project
With the midterm elections coming up in mere weeks, it’s important to know how to vote while away at school, or how to even begin to register in the first place.
“One of the most important things students can do is make a voting plan,” says Dr. Angela McGowan-Kirsch, chair of Fredonia’s American Democracy Project (ADP) and Associate Professor in the Communication Department.
“That means checking their voter registration status, knowing the registration deadlines, finding out where and how they can vote and learning about the candidates and issues on their ballot,” McGowan-Kirsch stated.
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, if you consented to being automatically registered to vote while applying for your driver’s permit or license, you are most likely already registered.
This is because of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
In addition to the Fredonia specific ADP website, you can use Vote.org to check your voters’ registration by entering your name, address, date of birth and email address.
According to the ADP website If you are registered to vote with your Fredonia campus address in Fredonia’s voting district, you can vote in Fredonia on Election Day, Nov. 3.
According to the NY election website, if you are not registered to vote, you can register online at election.ny.gov, either virtually, or by printing out a form and delivering it to your local board of elections.
If you are unable to make it to your home district in time for Election Day, you have several options, according to vote.org.
If you have lived in Fredonia for 30 or more days, you can change your address online and vote in Fredonia, therefore voting for candidates representing Fredonia as well as statewide and federal elections.
According to Vote.org if you wish to stay registered in your home district, you either must be present in that district on Election Day, vote early or you can register for a mail-in ballot option.
You must apply for at least two weeks before the election, so your local board of elections, according to the NYS election website.
Usa.gov mentions, an absentee ballot is usually for those who are absent from their home districts on the day of the election, while a mail-in ballot is for those who wish to vote early but may still be present in their district.
This means you can pick up a mail-in ballot or have it mailed to you, while an absentee ballot is always mailed in and mailed back to your board of elections.
Information on voting specifically at Fredonia can be found on the Fredonia ADP website, as well as links to resources for making the decision of where to vote and how.
McGowan-Kirsch mentions that misinformation runs rampant during elections. and it is important to check where you receive your information before you form an opinion.
“I also encourage students to seek information from reliable sources and look beyond what they encounter on social media,” said Dr. McGowan-Kirsch on information during elections, “being an informed voter means taking time to evaluate information and consider different perspectives before deciding.”
This could mean going through the candidate’s history in office, their qualifications or even researching claims about candidates you encounter on social media.
According to the McGowan-Kirch, at the end of the day, it is important to remember that voting is our right; we need to exercise it in order to make change, “Through the American Democracy Project, we want students to recognize that civic engagement doesn’t begin or end on Election Day,” states McGowan-Kirch.
“Voting is one important way to participate in our democracy, but staying informed, engaging in conversations and getting involved in our community’s matter, too.” said McGowan-Kirsch.
According to the NYS election website, the last day to register to vote is October 23.
For more information, visit elections.ny.gov, visit the ADP webpage at fredonia.edu or check out the ADP Instagram account at “ADPFred.”