ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University students are taking different paths to ensure their voices are heard at the ballot box. Whether voting in person, early, or absentee, students are choosing the method that works best for them.

In a recent Student Life Instagram poll, 87% of the 456 respondents indicated they planned to vote in November. 

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú is committed to ensuring that all eligible students have access to the tools they need to vote. ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s , developed by the Division of Student Life, helps students determine if they are eligible to vote, their options for how to vote, and what ID requirements are in place for in-person voting. 

To help students cast their ballots early, the Center for Student Engagement, Activities, and ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúhip (SEAL) is hosting a on Friday, Nov. 1. The free bus will take students to the Butler County Board of Elections, allowing them to drop off Ohio absentee ballots or vote early in person. Additionally, students can stop by the Armstrong Student Center rooms 2012 and 2018 for free stamps, envelopes, and absentee ballot request forms.

"It can be confusing, navigating different state laws around elections and voting," said Jen O'Brien, director of communications for student life. "We want students to understand their options for casting their vote and simplify the process as much as possible."

Beyond helping students cast their ballot, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú's student counseling service is offering Campus Care sessions throughout the fall semester to help students debrief their emotions about current events without the need for scheduling a therapy session. Campus Care is held twice per week; no appointment is necessary and there is no fee. 

Voting early in person: Taking advantage of flexibility

Sophie Kwiatkowski, an English Literature and Sustainability major from Mentor, OH, initially planned to vote absentee but decided instead to switch her voter registration to Butler County to experience voting in person.

While Kwiatkowski has voted in previous elections, this will be her first presidential election. “I wanted the in-person voting experience and didn’t want the hassle of mailing in an absentee request and ballot,” she said. 

Kwiatkowski will have the option to join the Center for Student Engagement, Activities, and ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúhip on Friday, Nov. 1 on the Democracy Bus. The free bus ride is scheduled to take students to the Butler County Board of Elections to vote early in person on the Friday before Election Day. 

Voting in person on Election Day: The full experience

For Mollie Duffy, senior Public Administration major from Buffalo Grove, IL, the in-person voting experience is a meaningful tradition.

Duffy has been a dedicated voter since turning 18. She changed her address to Oxford during her sophomore year at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, and has been voting locally ever since. When Ohio’s voter identification laws changed in 2023, she made the decision to vote absentee in Oxford. This year, however, she is excited to vote in her first presidential election in person on Election Day. 

“I thought that it would be important to vote in-person,” said Duffy, referring to her first presidential election. “Not only for my own satisfaction, but also to have first-hand experience in a presidential polling place in order to keep my community informed on the conditions and expectations of voting in-person.”

Voting Absentee

Out-of-State Absentee Voting

Jara Oden, fourth year Public Health and Gerontology double major from Charleston, WV, has been voting since 2020.

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to go home [to West Virginia] for early in-person voting or voting on Election Day, so I decided to request an absentee ballot,” she shared. 

The November election will be Oden’s second time voting in a presidential election. “Voting is the most power we have as American citizens,” she said. “It allows our voices to be heard and influence policy changes that we want to see made in our systems.”

In-State Absentee Voting

Julia Moore, a senior Creative Writing major from North Lawrence, OH, has also chosen to vote absentee, but her motivation is rooted in local issues back home. 

“I’m voting absentee for issues in my hometown because I think there are lots of changes worth making,” Moore explained. She is particularly interested in educational funding, having felt the effects of underfunding during her own high school experience. 

Moore obtained her Ohio absentee ballot request form from the SEAL Ambassadors for Civic Engagement. “[They] provide lots of resources for voter registration, information about deadlines and registration requirements,” she added.

Election Day Resources

As has been tradition the past several years, there will be a party at the polls event hosted near the on-campus polling location at the Marcum Hotel and Conference Center. If students have questions about voting before Election Day, they can reach out to the Division of Student Life at StudentLife@ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúOH.edu or on Instagram .