By Jaylen Beaner-Walker, contributing writer
The Towerlight has put together a comprehensive guide on voting for the 2024 election season on how to register to vote, how to do mail-in ballots, in person voting, early voting, important dates to know, options for out-of-state students, learning about the candidates and civic engagement events happening on Towson University’s campus.
How to Register to Vote:
A state issued ID or driver’s license is required to register. If a student does not have an ID or Driver’s License, any other form of government issued documentation may be valid.
Ages 16 and up are allowed to register to vote. The minimum age to vote is 18 years old.
The registration form will ask for name, phone number, date of birth, place of birth, gender, social security number, and citizenship status.
To begin the process, visit the Maryland State Board of Elections website. Within the registration site, there will be step by step directions to follow while filling out the registration form.
The last day to register online or by mail is Oct. 15.
It is recommended by the Office of Civil Engagement that students who have registered to vote using their home address but are wanting to vote on campus should re-register and change their home address to 8000 York Road, which is TU’s official address.
After re-registering, make sure to contact the financial aid office via email at [email protected] to make sure that financial aid amounts or scholarships have not been changed or impacted.
Other Ways to Register:
By Mail: Download and complete the National Mail Voter Registration Form found at the United States Election Assistance Commission website. After printing the form, the form is to be mailed to the State Board of Elections at 151 West Street, Suite 200, Annapolis, MD 21401.
A student may register in person at the local election office in Towson City Center located at 400 Washington Ave, Towson, MD 21204.
The South Campus Pavilion located at 1 Auburn Drive is an early voting center where a student can also register. The center opens on Oct. 24 and operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting Options; Mail-in Ballot and In Person:
Mail-in Ballot Voting:
The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 29. To request a mail-in ballot, visit the website for Maryland State Board of Elections. On the site there will be a link to request a ballot. The page will provide a walkthrough of the registration process.
The site also provides a downloadable PDF form that can be printed, filled out and sent to the local board of elections. For Towson it is Baltimore County.
According to the United States Postal Service, completed mail-in ballots should be postmarked on or before primary election day, Nov. 5 and recommended they should be mailed at least a week before. Meaning to ensure on-time arrival, mail the ballot by Oct. 29.
Mail-in ballots can also be returned to any polling place, voting location, or ballot drop-off box in the county a person is registered in. The closest place to drop off a ballot for Baltimore County is the South Campus Pavilion which has drop-off boxes outside of the facility and can also be dropped off inside.
In Person Voting:
When voting in person, it will be required to mark a paper ballot. The paper ballot can also be marked digitally. After filling out the ballot, it will then be put into a privacy sleeve and will be taken to a scanner. The ballot is scanned and dropped into a ballot box, making the vote official.
To find where to vote in person, check registration status via the Maryland State Board of Elections or through TurboVote. The registration status listed will provide an assigned polling place. Voting anywhere aside from the assigned polling place will make the vote invalid.
Where to Vote:
The primary polling place for students on campus is the South Campus Pavilion. Students can take the Shuttle’s Gold Route which stops outside the facility and runs from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. through Monday and Friday.
Early Voting:
Maryland’s Board of Elections has a list of all locations within Maryland for early voting. The voting center at South Campus Pavilion will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day within the early voting period.
Important dates to know:
Oct. 24 to 31 is the Early Voting period, last day is Oct. 31
Oct. 29 is the last day to request a mail-in ballot and the last day to mail to meet 1 week before the deadline.
Nov. 5 General Election.
Options for out-of-state students:
TU’s student engagement portal details how and where to vote with important deadlines to remember for students from other states not highlighted here.
Delaware:
- Early voting period starts Oct. 25 and ends Nov. 3
Pennsylvania:
- Voter registration deadline ends Oct. 21
- The application for a Mail-in Ballot is to be submitted Oct. 29
New Jersey:
- Voter registration deadline ends Oct. 15
- Mail-in ballot registration ends Oct. 29
- Early voting begins Oct. 26 and ends Nov. 3
New York:
- Voter registration deadline ends Oct. 26
- Mail in ballot registration is to be received on same date as voter registration deadline4
- Early voting begins Oct. 26 and ends Nov. 3
Learning About the Candidates:
Non-partisan voter guides can be found at Guides.Vote, which is specifically made for students to learn about candidates stances on issues, and BallotPedia which has candidates fill out questionnaires about key issues.
Election Season Events at TU:
Party to the Polls: Held Oct. 24 in UU 329. This is an event to celebrate the first day of early voting with engaging activities and an opportunity to learn about the electoral college system.
After the Election, What’s next? A TU Community Conversation: Held Dec. 4 in UU Ballroom A. This event is to reflect on the Presidential Election and how civic practices will continue moving forward.
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