By Paige Albright
Boston University News Service
On the heels of the second presidential debate, BUNS and its staffers want to make sure students here at BU know how to get out and vote in November. As many students at BU are from states outside of Massachusetts, voting can seem confusing. Let BUNS break down mail-in voting for you!
Mail-in voting means that instead of reporting to your designated in-person polling site to cast your vote, your home county will mail your ballot to you directly. From there you will fill out your ballot as normal and mail it back. However, with mail-in voting, there are many rules and regulations to be aware of.
The first step in this process is to make sure you are registered to vote. Any individual who will be 18 years old by Election Day is able to register to vote. Everyone is able to check their voting status through your state or county’s website. Additionally, you are able to register to vote through the same website. However, when registering online, the process will take a few days to complete as verification steps will have to take place.
The biggest thing to keep in mind when voting by mail is the various deadlines that need to be met. For example, the deadline to request your absentee ballot is Oct. 29. There are multiple ways to go about requesting a ballot, like through your county’s auditor’s office or using your home state’s website to fill out a form. We recommend researching your home state’s policies for mail-in voting as some states have additional steps or more strict guidelines.
The second deadline is the date on which you must mail in your ballot. For your ballot to count in any state, it must be out for delivery to whichever state you have residency when polls close. This means your ballot must be delivered on or before Election Day, which is Nov. 5.
As ballots are not allowed to be sent out to voters until Oct. 16, it’s best to request a mail-in ballot before that date or as soon as possible. Then, subsequently, send your ballot back as soon as you can to create a cushion in case any unexpected delivery challenges arise. If the process needs to be repeated, the deadlines remain, which is why giving yourself time in case of a worst-case scenario, is recommended.
As non-traditional voting forms have been on the rise, especially in the post-pandemic era, many states have sought to make voting by mail more convenient. Nine states in the US will be sending all voters in their state ballots instead of conducting traditional polling.
In an election as tight and divisive as this year, it is imperative that all BU students do their civic duty. Every vote counts, even in states that might seem already set on what the outcome will be. The US is a country for the people by the people, and your vote helps make sure this belief holds true.
