Election 2024: The Leader’s Guide to Voting

Photo by Ian Murphy

As college students, voting may be the last thing on your mind at the start of the new semester, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the presidential election and making your plan to vote. It’s important to stay informed as the semester begins so that you can make an educated decision and make your vote count in what is shaking up to be a high-stakes Presidential Election.

Ensuring you meet the qualifications to vote in this next election is an important step. Qualifications include:

• Voters must be 18 years of age or older on or before Election Day
• Voters must be United States Citizens
• Voters must be free of conviction and not currently serving any prison sentences

If you meet all of those qualifications, you’re set! Before you start making your way to your nearest polling place in November, head to vote.gov to fill out your registration application before the deadline on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Each person’s voting plan may look a bit different depending on where they reside, so start thinking about what works best for you. Here’s a quick guide for Elmhurst University students.

EU will have a recess on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5 so that everyone can take the day to vote.

Residential Students

If you live on campus, voting is as easy as finding the nearest polling place to you. EU has resources available for you via their website, and as November nears more local venues will begin advertising themselves as polling locations. When in doubt, look to the Elmhurst Public Library. Right across the street from our campus, the library is the most convenient place for residential students to cast their vote.

Students from Out of State

Attending EU from out of state? Check out information on receiving and sending an absentee ballot from your home state. Registering to vote here in Illinois from out of state might not be the best option if you don’t plan on staying here long term, as it requires you to hold voting rights in no other state and to have resided here for at least 30 days before the election.

Informed Voting

Before heading to the ballot box, make sure you do your research on each of the candidates and the issues they stand for. Every vote counts, so make sure you’re placing yours for the person you’d most like to represent you in the four years to come.

After reading this guide hopefully you’ll have all the information you need to make your voice heard this election season!