Absence is No Excuse

What is one to do when they are away from home during an election? That is the case for many here at Ursinus College. Many are from nearby states like New Jersey and Delaware, but many come even further from Oregon and Vermont. There’s a wide variety, but everyone’s got to vote somehow. If every student who was away from home chose not to vote, the voting would surely be skewed.

It’s crucial for every member of every town to vote. That one vote can make an absolute difference in the outcome of any election. Everyone’s voice can be heard and everyone’s opinion is important. The structure of our government is based upon citizens voting for those who they want to represent this country.

Students can easily apply for an absentee ballot if they cannot make it home on the day of elections. All they have to do is write a letter to the election commissioner of their town with all the information needed. A family member can even apply for it for them. They must be a registered voter to be able to do this.

It’s even more important to encourage students to vote because of the lack of young people voting. If absentee ballots aren’t encouraged, even fewer young people will be voting. The young people of our country have showed a lack of effort to even register to vote. Many in this generation also show a lack of interest in the elections. They rarely choose to watch presidential debates on television or read an article in the paper that would inform them about the candidates and issues. Just like many in our country, they feel their vote won’t make a difference. If we all felt this way, our government wouldn’t function.

Olivia Oller, a sophomore here at Ursinus College, is in this particular position. She is from Bennington, Vermont and didn’t want to miss out on the presidential primary. She is very passionate about her vote counting for her town and contributing her opinion to this crucial election. “Absentee ballots are extremely helpful in an election like this where you want to contribute to your local elections and can’t be near home,” says Olivia. Olivia was extremely happy she was able to get her vote in.

Veronica Perry, a freshman here at Ursinus College, is another student happy to be able to contribute a vote. She is a representative of Connecticut and didn’t want her vote to go uncounted. This is her first time away from home during an election as well as her first time voting in an election as crucial as this one. Veronica says, “I feel I should still get to have a say in the election even though I’m away from home. I want to be able to contribute my opinion and hope my choice of candidate is elected.”

Many college students may choose not to vote but there are some who have strong opinions and will contribute their vote via absentee ballot.