Election Day is here and millions of people around the country will go out and vote. In order to make sure that students are able to vote, there are certain steps that must be followed.
UConnPIRG Campus organizer Shawna Upton talked about the steps University of Connecticut students must do to avoid lines and make sure their vote counts.
1. Students should look up their voter registrations status. One site students can access is rockthevote.org.
“Remember, your polling location is connected to where you’re registered to vote. If you’re not registered in CT, you can check where your voter registration status at the secretary of state’s website for your state,” Upton said.
2. The polling location is based on where students registered to vote. Students can find their polling place at studentvote.org. Students who registered using their UConn address will cast their vote at Mansfield Community Center.
3. Every polling location opens at 6 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m., so students should make time to vote since there will likely be long lines.
Anyone who is in line at the polling place by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
4. Students may or may not be asked to present ID. You may be asked to present your state ID or your UConn ID, so make sure you have both items with you at the polls.
“If you have both, bring both. You may also need to provide proof of address. If you’re registered at your campus address, you can pull up your campus housing assignment on your phone and show the registrar that,” Upton said.
5. Students should make themselves familiar with the process and with the ballot. Sample ballots can be found on studentvote.org.
If students are not yet registered to vote, they will be able to do same-day registration at their polling location today upon arrival.
However, the rules for Election Day Registration are stricter, so be prepared to present at least two forms of ID (government issued ID, social security, passport and/or UConn ID).
In addition, students will also have to bring proof of residency, which can be a bill or UConn housing agreement.
UConnPIRG will be on Fairfield Way with other groups that have helped on the get-out-the-vote efforts to answer questions students may have, Upton said.
There will also be UConnPIRG representatives at the polling place as well.
Buses will be available from the UConn Bookstore by faculty staff and staff union, which will be going every hour throughout the day.
The green, purple, silver and yellow UConn bus lines can also take students to Storrs Center along their regular routes. Students could also take the walk to the Mansfield Community Center to cast their vote.
Daniela Marulanda is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at daniela.marulanda@uconn.edu.