Voting is essential for a functioning democracy, and it’s important for college students, especially first-time voters, to be well-informed about how to vote, whether in person, absentee ballot, or by mail.
“Voting is one of the most powerful ways to shape your community and your future. I encourage every student to take the opportunity to make their voice heard and participate in this fundamental aspect of our democracy. Your vote matters, and it makes a difference.”
– Jim Cawley, President of Rosemont College
Important Dates:
October 21: Deadline to REGISTER in Pennsylvania before the November election.
October 29: Deadline to request a Pennsylvania mail-in ballot.
November 5: General Election. Polls open for in-person voting from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm. Last day for county election office to receive completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots (must be received by 8:00 pm).
Registering to Vote:
First, check your voter registration status.
If you are a Pennsylvania resident, October 21 is the last day to register before the Nov. 5 election. Find your state and learn more here: https://vote.gov/.
College students have a choice of which address to use to register to vote:
- Students can register and vote where they live while attending Rosemont or at their prior home address, provided their family or guardian still resides there.
- If you are registering where you live while attending Rosemont, you can use either an on-campus or off-campus address.
- You can only be registered in one place at a time.
Absentee voting or voting by mail?
Do You Live Outside of PA?
For students whose permanent/home address is outside of Pennsylvania and would prefer to register at their permanent/home address and plan to either travel home to vote or complete an absentee ballot, please visit Vote.org to check on the applicable procedures and deadlines for your state.
Non-Partisan Election Resources:
- League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania – statewide nonpartisan voter services, education, and advocacy.
- PA Youth Vote is “a nonpartisan collaboration of youth, educators, and organizations working to elevate youth voices, improve public school civics education, and empower youth as civic actors.”
- Vote 411 – Find what’s on your ballot – non-partisan information, both general and state-specific.
- Fact Check – monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of UPenn, Fact Check aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.
