Now that you’re familiar with your basic voting rights, it’s time to take a closer look at exactly how and where you can vote as a college student. This is a simple process if you’re attending college in your home state — you’ll cast your ballot in that state.
However, if you’re an out-of-state college student, you may be able to choose whether you vote in your home state or in the state where you currently live. You may cast only one ballot. Each state establishes its own residency requirements.
In Arizona, for example, out-of-state students who travel to Arizona for the purpose of attending school are not automatically considered eligible to vote in Arizona — and students from Arizona who attend college in other states do not automatically lose their Arizona residency.4 In other words, if you’re an out-of-state student attending a college in Arizona, you must vote in your home state, instead of in Arizona.
If you’re attending college out of state and you’re required (or are otherwise planning) to vote in your home state, you do not need to physically travel to your home state to cast your ballot. Instead, you can use an absentee ballot. Every state allows absentee voting.
Absentee voting is safe and secure, and does not lead to widespread election fraud.5 Being a college student temporarily living out of state is widely considered a valid reason for requesting an absentee ballot. (Not every state requires a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.)
It’s quick and easy to request an absentee ballot. Visit the “Can I Vote” page on the NASS website, navigate to “Absentee & Early Voting” and select your home state on the menu. You’ll be taken to a website with additional voting information and instructions on how to request your ballot. Pay attention to the applicable deadlines and review the ballot thoroughly before filling it out to avoid making errors.
In short, voting as a college student is important and rewarding. By participating in the democratic process, you are contributing to a better future for yourself and your community. So make sure to register to vote, and encourage your peers to do the same. Every vote really does matter and together, our votes can make a difference.
At Grand Canyon University, we’re proud to be known for modern degree programs and rigorous academics. But we also offer a wealth of student enrichment opportunities, support services and resources. We encourage current and potential students to explore the services available from our friendly Student Affairs team, from on-campus clubs and sports to spiritual enrichment to counseling services, and much more.
