The SNU Student’s Guide to Voting

The SNU Student’s Guide to Voting

November 3rd is election day, and it’s about a month away. The time to register and work out all of the kinks before it is time to cast votes. For most of us, this year will mark the first presidential election we get to cast our vote in, and many may not know where to start in the process. So, here’s a quick guide on what you need to do for registration based on your situation.

The Southern Nazarene University (SNU) campus houses many students from all over the country, and these out-of-state students have a couple of options. If you have a permanent address in another state, but go to an Oklahoma college, like SNU, you can choose to either register and vote here or your home state. The only catch is you can only be registered and vote in one state, so you have to select one or the other.

If you choose to switch your registration to Oklahoma, you need to apply for registration by the deadline, October 9th. This means the application needs to be mailed or hand-delivered by that day. To complete the application, make sure you have a form of identification, like a driver’s license or Social Security Number.

You can easily fill out an application online, but you can’t submit it online. You need to either print it out and mail it or deliver it yourself to your local county election board. SNU is in Oklahoma County, so applications should be to be delivered or sent to this address: 4201 N Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City OK 73105-5210. 

For SNU students who live on campus, but have a permanent address somewhere else in Oklahoma, or for those who can’t make it out to the polls on election day, the process is a bit different. You can drive home on election day if you wish, or you can request an absentee ballot to vote by mail. This request can be made via mail or through the OK Voter Portal. The OK Voter Portal is also a good place to check your voter registration, find your local polling location, change your party affiliation, and much more. It’s kind of a one-stop-shop for all of your voting needs.

Oklahoma doesn’t require a reason to request an absentee ballot, so all you need to do is request one before the Tuesday prior to the election. This year, that day is October 27th. Like out-of-state students, your options to turn in your form are either by mail or in-person. To turn it in yourself, you need to go to the address listed above for the Oklahoma County election office. You also need to make sure to bring identification and turn it into the office before they close for the day at 5 p.m. on November 2nd. If you choose to turn it in by mail, you need to fill it out and mail it soon enough so that the election office gets it by 7 p.m. on November 3rd. 

After registering, all that’s left to do is to vote. If you are voting in-person, make sure to bring a form of ID and find out where your local polls are through the OK Voter Portal. No matter how you choose to cast your vote this November, your voice matters and you have the opportunity to influence and make a difference in the country. Use your voice to push to see leaders in office who reflect and fight for your morals and beliefs, it’s important, to say the least.