Absentee Ballots
It is important for all students who are qualified to register and vote to know that they may by law register to vote at the location of their college or their home residence. According to the Attorney General of Pennsylvania,
“college students are permitted under State law to register in the locality at which they are attending a college or university” (Op. Atty. Gen., No. 64, 1971).
Students who expect to be absent from their municipality of residence on Election Day during
the entire period the polls are open for voting (7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.) due to enrollment in a
university, college or other higher educational institution are eligible for an absentee ballot.
While some college students choose to register to vote in the election district of their college or
university, others vote through absentee ballots and maintain their registration at their residence
in their hometown.
Voting by absentee ballot involves a two-step process. First, a voter must apply to the county
board of elections for an absentee ballot. Second, the county board of elections sends a paper
ballot (known as an absentee ballot) to the voter who completes the ballot and returns it to the
county board of elections.
For absentee ballot information for your home state, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's listing of links for each state.
Remember: There are lots of advantages to registering here instead of absentee voting-- you don't have to worry about an absentee ballot or its deadlines, the polling station is just blocks away, and PA is a swing state, so your vote really, really counts!
And to change your registration for future elections, you simply go to your local courthouse or fill out a form on the web and send it in. That will supersede your PA registration. |
DEADLINES THAT APPLY TO ABSENTEE VOTING
An application for an absentee ballot must be completed, signed by the voter, and received by the
county board of elections no later than 5:00 PM on the Tuesday before Election Day. A voted
absentee ballot must be returned to the county board of elections by 5:00 PM on the Friday
before Election Day. In presidential elections, however, voted absentee ballots received by the
county board after this deadline but before the close of the polls on Election Day will be counted
for the office of President and Vice-President only.
To obtain an application for an absentee ballot or determine eligibility for use of an absentee ballot other than for reasons based on enrollment in a institution of higher education, simply contact the county board of elections or go
to your home state's Department of State’s website ( via the Federal Voting Assistance Program list ).
Emergencies: If an emergency arises after the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot (5:00 PM
on the Tuesday before Election Day), a voter may obtain an emergency absentee ballot
application from the county board of elections, either in person, by mail or by messenger. The
application must be completed and signed by the voter before a notary public. The deadline to
apply for an emergency absentee ballot is 5:00 PM on the Friday before the election.
MAKE SURE YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT COUNTS!
In completing an absentee ballot and related absentee balloting materials and returning the
voted absentee ballot to the county board of elections, please be sure to follow all
instructions received from the county board of elections. Improper completion of the
absentee ballot or related material, or improper delivery of the absentee ballot to the county
board of elections, can result in your absentee ballot being challenged and set aside by the
county board of elections or a court of law.
[The majority of the above information adapted from The Basic Guide to Student Voting in Pennsylvania ]
CENTER
FOR STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
|
Slippery Rock University
B-105 University Union
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
phone: (724)738-2092
fax: (724)738-2624 |
