UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State encourages eligible students to be engaged citizens by participating in elections and understanding the issues that will affect them today and in the future. In order to vote in the Nov. 8 election and have their voices heard, students are reminded that they need to register by Oct. 11.
Students living on or off campus can register in Centre County with their local address to vote at a State College precinct. Many students living in residence halls will vote at a location in the HUB-Robeson Center, but students should confirm the location of their precinct on their voter registration card or by checking the State College precinct map.
To help students learn more about the current candidates and issues and register to vote, the University Park Undergraduate Association is hosting a PSU Votes Week from Sept. 26 to 30. PSU Votes Week is designed to increase civic engagement and student voter efficacy by giving students the opportunity to register to vote and become informed about the process.
Throughout the week, representatives from multiple student organizations will be in the HUB assisting students with voter registration.
In addition to assisting with registration, the week will feature events aimed at helping students learn more about the issues and candidates, including:
- Presidential debate watch party — 8:30 p.m. Sept. 26 in the HUB Flex Theater
- Students for Hillary vs. We Are For Trump debate — 8 p.m. Sept. 27 in 101 Thomas
- College Republicans vs. College Democrats debate — 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in HUB Flex Theater
- Panel with local and state legislators — 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29 in 134 HUB
Although the above events highlight the Republican (Donald Trump) and Democratic (Hillary Clinton) candidates, there are three additional parties with presidential candidates: Darrell Castle for the Constitution Party, Jill Stein for the Green Party, and Gary Johnson for the Libertarian Party. Depending on your voting location, students may also have the opportunity to vote for state or local offices.
If students prefer to vote using a home address outside of Centre County, they can request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballot regulations and deadlines vary by state. The Campus Vote Project has a guide that lists important voter information by state, including information on application deadlines for absentee ballots.
Whether they want to vote locally or at home, students can register to vote online at psu.turbovote.org. TurboVote streamlines the registration process by offering online registration, absentee ballot requests, and text/email reminders about deadlines. Students can also learn more about their voter rights in the Everyone.votesPA.com Voter Guide.