No matter who you are or what state you’re in, everything you need to vote is right here.
What’s on this site?
FAQ from College Students
Scroll down to find out which state you should vote in, what address to use and how to vote
Register to Vote
Check your registration status, register to vote, update your registration or find out if you can register at the polls – all by the deadlines
Vote in Person
If you want to vote early or on Election Day, find out your state’s voter ID laws, the use of student IDs and the location of your polling place
Vote by Mail
Request a ballot and submit it – all by the deadlines
Check us out online, where we’ll be posting constant updates and tips about voting in this election.
Common Questions of College Students
“How can I vote?”
There are three primary ways that you can vote. After you complete your voter registration, you can mail in your ballot, vote early, or vote on Election Day.
Every state has mail-in voting. However, some states require an excuse to vote by mail such as illness or an inability to make it to the physical polls. Many states will allow COVID fears to be a valid excuse in 2020. Other states automatically will send you a mail-in ballot. Even if you are automatically sent a mail-in ballot, you can vote in person if you prefer to do so. To request an absentee ballot, click here to find your state’s election office website.
The majority of states offer early voting. You can go to your designated polling place to vote in person in the days leading up to Election Day. The dates of early voting depend on your state. You do not require an excuse to vote early.
Every state votes on Election Day. (What do I need to bring to the polling place?) If you’re voting in person, you should go to your assigned polling place. (How can I find my polling place?) If you vote at a polling place that’s different from your assigned location, you should cast a provisional ballot. However, your vote may not be counted.
“I live in and go to college in the same state. “My hometown and my college are in the same state but I lived in different places. Which address do I use?”
You can choose whichever address you prefer. If your hometown and your college town are in different counties, you can choose whichever county’s elections, candidates or issues relate to you more. Even though you can be registered to vote in multiple states, you cannot vote in both locations.
“I go to school in one state and live in another. Which state do I vote in?”
You can vote in whichever state you prefer! Since you have dual residency, you may be registered to vote in multiple states. However, you can only vote in one state in an election. If you’re not registered in any state so far, see this page to register in the state you choose.
“I want to vote in my home state. How do I do that if I’ll be in the state where my college is located on Election Day?”
If you want to vote in a certain state but won’t be there on Election Day, you should request an absentee ballot. See this page to look up the absentee ballot guidelines for your state.
“I want to vote in the state my college is in. How do I do vote if I’ll be in my home state on Election Day?”
If you want to vote in a certain state but won’t be there on Election Day, you should request an absentee ballot. See this page to look up the absentee ballot guidelines for your state.
“If I choose to vote in my college town, should I use the general address of my university?”
No. If you live in a dorm, you should use that address on your voter registration. Do not use the standard address of your university.