ll year long you have been following the campaigns, and now the big day is fast approaching. With your arm tingling to pull the metaphorical lever, you hear the woman at the registration desk apologize because you are unable to cast your vote in this year’s monumental election. If you are unable to get to your designated polling place on Nov. 4, you may be in trouble.
Many of Eastern’s students have their home somewhere not within driving distance of campus. With the election season in full swing some wonder how they will be able to play their role in this year’s election.
Every voter is assigned a local polling place at which they are to vote. If you are unable, by varying circumstances, to get to a polling center within your voting district, you may be eligible to cast an absentee ballot, which is not just for soldiers or those with physical disabilities.
Each state’s laws on absentee voting vary. Twenty-two states require a reason for needing to submit an absentee ballot. No matter the state, however, there is first an application that you must fill out.
While some states do not require an excuse and allow applications to be submitted on the day of elections, others necessitate that the application for an absentee ballot be submitted 45 days prior to elections.
Applications for absentee ballots can be found online via the websites of your respective state.
For Pennsylvania, applications for absentee ballots are due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 28, and ballots need to be returned by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31.