It’s hard not to notice all the buzz surrounding politics as the 2024 presidential election inches closer. And for many ’Canes, it will be the first they can vote in. So, what’s the significance of your first election? If you’re planning on voting, there are a number of things to know and steps to take before Nov. 5.
Turning 18 in the United States comes with many milestones, but one of the most significant is being able to cast your vote. You might have registered when you got your first driver’s license, and you’ve maybe been hearing about the democratic process since elementary school. However, there’s still room for confusion regarding the actual voting process, especially when it varies from state to state.
Where do you start the process of registration? Where can you go to vote on election day, especially if you’re not in your state of residence? Here’s a complete breakdown of exercising your right to vote here at the University of Miami.
Steps to Take Before Voting
Once deciding you want to vote, the next questions are relatively easy. Where, when and how do you want to vote? You’ve got a few options: because UM students have residency in Florida, or if you live in Florida to begin with, many opt to vote right here. But, if you’re an out-of-state student, you also have the option to cast your vote in your home state instead — see our sidebar for how to register for an absentee ballot.
For those voting in Florida, you have three options: voting in person on Election Day, voting in-person before Election Day or voting via mail-in ballot before Election Day. This is just a matter of preference — some people like voting by mail because of the convenience, while others like the process of going to a polling center and being a part of the action.
If you’ve decided on voting in person, all you have to do after registering is show up to a polling site in your precinct with valid identification. It’s even recommended to think ahead on where you’ll be voting and how you’re getting there. Precinct locations will be confirmed 30 days before the election, so that gives you plenty of time to make a plan. Make sure to account for transportation, too — carpool with a friend, check metro or bus schedules, or take advantage of discounted rates on Lyft for Election Day.
If you want to vote by mail, you have to request a mail ballot. You can do this a few ways, but the easiest way is to go through the Miami-Dade County website’s election page. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Oct. 24 at 5 p.m., and the deadline to return it is no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, but it’s recommended to get it in sooner than that, to account for any weather complications or other delays. Ballots can be returned either by mail or at a county drop box location.
Kimberly Moncada, the Director of the Butler Center for Student Service and Leadership, shared what students should expect when voting in person.
“Students can expect long lines on Election Day. Therefore, we encourage early voting, which takes place in Miami-Dade County from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3,” said Moncada. “During early voting, registered voters can go to any of the sites throughout the county. However, they must go to their assigned precinct on Election Day, which is Nov. 5. Remember that the last day to register to vote is Oct. 7.”
Registering
“Get Out the Vote” — a campaign run by students with the aid of UM administration — is hosting a number of events this semester where students can register to vote. If you miss one of these or want to register yourself, GOTV encourages ’Canes to register through UM’s partner site, TurboVote, which is a nonprofit voter registration platform. You fill out the TurboVote form, print it, sign it, and mail it to the Supervisor of Elections.
Researching Candidates
Registration and making a voting plan is the biggest obstacle for many new voters, so if you’ve got that part down, you’re in the clear. But deciding who to vote for is the entire point of the process. You may have come into college with steadfast political beliefs, changed your mind a little or a lot, or have no idea where to begin when researching candidates. Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, make sure you’re using reliable sources when researching candidates and their platforms.
When it comes to news, UM students have access to both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal for free.
Moncada recommends starting with Democracy Works and Find Your Ballot, both nonpartisan resources which can be accessed through the GOTV site. Political science professor, Louise K. Davidson-Schmich, agrees that previewing your ballot is a good way to feel prepared for Election Day, suggesting Ballotpedia as another resource.
During a time when misinformation can spread easily on social media platforms, political science professor, Matthew Nelsen, encourages students to cross reference things they see online.
“If they find an Instagram post or TikTok that they find compelling or surprising or controversial, they should use additional media sources such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and NPR to assess the validity of that source,” Nelsen said.
Nelsen also said to be wary of AI-manipulated political images.
“Reverse image searches can be an incredibly powerful way to identify the origins of political images to assess whether they are legitimate or fake,” said Nelson.
What Students Are Saying
Voting in 2024 will look pretty different than it did in 2020, when the U.S. was still in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I voted by mail in 2020 because of COVID,” said Katie Brubaker, a UM senior from New Jersey with a major in art history and minor in political science. “I was taking AP Government at the time, so it was pretty exciting since I had been following the election. This year I’m going to vote in person just for the experience.”
Senior Joe Anillo, an electronic media and sports administration major from Maryland, recalled a similar experience.
“It was pretty weird voting in my first presidential election from my kitchen table,” Anillo said. He is studying abroad this semester in Spain, so he plans to vote by mail again, but this time overseas.
For most ’Canes, though, this will be their first time voting, and the excitement is growing as Election Day gets closer.
“I’m really excited to vote in my first presidential election,” said Sebastian Gonzalez, a sophomore from New Jersey, majoring in public relations and political science. “I can’t believe that this election is my first. One to remember for sure.”
Mary Brooks, a finance and management major from Washington, is a senior who turned 18 shortly after the 2020 election.
“I’m super excited. Being able to vote is a core value of being an American and is something I believe all Americans should exercise,” Brooks said. “This election is especially important to me because of how much is at stake pertaining to different social issues.”
Why Vote?
Hopefully, we’ve equipped you with all the necessary tips for a seamless voting process. But many students might still be on the fence about whether they want to vote or not.
“Voter turnout rates have increased in the United States since around the year 2000, but many people still do not vote,” said UM political science professor, Casey Klofstad. “College-aged people are much less likely to turn out [to vote] compared to their older siblings, parents, and grandparents.”
Klofstad, who has been teaching political science courses at UM since 2005, urges students to make their voices heard.
“If you care about issues that affect you today, like the cost of college, and issues older generations will leave you to deal with, like climate change, it is vital that you turn out to vote,” Klofstad said.
Moncada shared similar sentiments about local elections happening in November.
“It is important for students to vote — not just in presidential elections but also in local elections, because this is where decisions are made that affect your community,” said Moncada “For example, water usage regulations, parking fines, road maintenance, and tax dollars.”
“Voting is the most free and equal form of political expression we have,” said Klofstad. “If you want a voice in decisions that affect you today and will impact your life in the years to come, you need to express it,”
Registering for an Absentee Ballot
Even if you’ll be in Miami on Election Day, you can still decide to cast your vote in your home state. Here’s how:
- Look up your state’s rules surrounding absentee ballots.
While some states allow anyone to register for an absentee ballot, others require a valid excuse. In this case, being a student at an out-of-state university is reason enough to qualify you for an absentee ballot.
- Stay on top of deadlines for requesting and returning your ballot.
Each state has different deadlines for requesting and returning your ballot, so make sure to stay on top of them in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Also take note of if your state requires your ballot to be postmarked by a certain date in order to count.
There are a few websites where you can look up and track your ballot after returning it to make sure it was counted correctly.
words_julia hecht. design_lizzie kristal.
This article was published in Distraction’s Fall 2024 print issue.
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