Just do it: a college student's guide to voting

As we prepare for the presidential and vice presidential debates that start Wednesday, I thought it might be a good time to talk about the “v” word.

That’s right: voting.

Voting has become politicized during the past few years, with the new voter ID laws that were passed and are now being challenged in the courts in several swing states like Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida.

Whether you think that these laws should have been implemented long ago to prevent voter fraud, or whether you think that they are designed to prevent certain groups from voting because they traditionally vote for a certain party, voting in general is an important thing.

As a college student, I know that there’s a lot on the line this November.
In order for me to be able to sleep soundly and look myself in the mirror after Nov. 6, I will have to vote.

A lack of time, a lack of transportation and a lack of knowledge are just a few of the many barriers that college students face when voting.

It’s difficult even to choose whether to vote as a resident of Bloomington or to vote absentee and cast your ballot in your home district.

Here are a few tips for voting as a college student in Indiana.

Get informed

There are countless websites that list the different steps you need to take to cast your ballot. You may need an ID when you go to vote, you do if you’re voting in Indiana, but your student ID might not qualify as a valid source of identification.

You probably don’t know the deadline for registering to vote or for sending in your absentee ballot in your district.

Maybe you’ve  already registered but you’ve changed addresses since last voting cycle and now you need to re-register.

How do you overcome all of this confusion?
Visit these websites to help you get informed and get started:
 
everyvotecounts2012.org, ourvoiceourvote.org, fairelections.com, and rockthevote.com.

Make it fun

When you go to vote in November, invite your friends. Print out a few extra
registration forms for your friends to fill out so that you’re all able to cast your ballots together. And when Election Day comes, carpool to the polling place and make a social event out of it.

You won’t be bored out of your mind while waiting in line and more young people will be recognized in our democracy. Hooray.

Spread the word

Tell all of your friends when and where you plan on voting, and invite them to vote in November.

If you are involved in student groups or organizations on campus, suggest going to vote together.

Share important voting information with your social media networks and inform your friends about the laws and deadlines surrounding voting.

Be the person who nags her friends and acquaintances about registering to vote, and share your excitement about participating in our democratic process.

­— sydhoffe@indiana.edu