As a young girl, I vividly remember going to the fire station—my area of town’s voting location—with my mom as she voted. There were curtains, levers and buttons (all very exciting things for an elementary school student), and I recall having no idea how she knew what to do or for whom to vote. The act seemed so foreign, so adult. And now, strangely enough, it is our turn. For most Wesleyan students, Nov. 4 will be our first time voting in a presidential election, and whether you’re voting in Connecticut or your home state, the upcoming election is likely to be one that you won’t forget.
Between your e-portfolio, mass e-mails, flyers around campus, all those tables at Usdan and someone physically knocking on your door, I’m pretty sure you’ve been inundated with reminders to register to vote and, if necessary, apply for an absentee ballot. But what if, say, you’re from a state whose deadline for registering to vote is on the earlier side? If you’re from New York, Florida or Illinois (or many other states as well), the deadline for registering to vote has passed.
Luckily, the earliest deadline for absentee ballot applications isn’t until Oct. 21. As we all know well, these deadlines creep up on us way too quickly, so instead of waiting until the last minute, start thinking about the process now. Have an application but haven’t gotten around to sending it in? There’s a box in the Wesleyan Student Assembly Office (Usdan 104) where you simply have to drop your application and someone will address and mail it for you.
Simply put, voting matters. The United States is at a pivotal point in its history, and you—yes, you—have a chance to make your voice heard. Don’t just let a deadline or two slip by because you’re too busy with other things. Instead, put that Wes education to good use and start thinking critically about the candidates, the issues and what you can do to make a difference. There are several student groups on the Wesleyan campus trying to make voting as easy for you as possible, and the administration’s support for these efforts has been extraordinary. Become an active voice in national politics and be proud that you did.
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