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Many Syracuse University students will be eligible to vote in the upcoming Nov. 5 United States general election, which includes federal, state and local races. Whether students choose to vote in-state or out-of-state depends on personal preferences, though the process for both differs.

Voters are eligible to register within New York state as long as they have been a resident of the state for at least 30 days before the election. New York does not require people to have permanent residence in a state to vote, so college students may list their on-campus address when voting.

This November will be the first time many students are voting in a general election. This year, 40.8 million members of Generation Z are eligible to vote, according to Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

The Daily Orange has outlined the steps necessary to vote in the 2024 general election.

Registering to vote

Registration can be done online through vote.gov or in-person at a participating location. Voter registration forms are available on-campus at Bird Library, Schine Student Center and Goldstein Student Center until noon on Oct. 25. Voter registration in New York state ends on Oct. 26.

Since registration deadlines vary by state, out-of-state students who plan on mailing in their ballot will need to follow their home state’s deadline. To vote in Onondaga County, voters must be registered under an address within the county, which includes on-campus housing addresses.

The Outreach Team, a national organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement, is currently registering people to vote on campus and around the city of Syracuse. Their team is canvassing around Schine Student Center and encouraging students to register locally, as the race for the U.S. House of Representatives’ 22nd Congressional District has the potential to flip the party majority in November.

Getting a ballot

On Nov. 5, SU will offer two on-campus polling locations — Huntington Hall through its Marshall Street entrance and Goldstein Student Center on South Campus. Voters may only use these locations if it’s their assigned location by the NYS Board of Elections.

Prospective voters can check their assigned polling on vote.gov, under the website’s “Finding Your Polling Place” page.

People voting outside of Onondaga County must request an absentee ballot, a mailed ballot used when voters are not willing or able to go to their assigned polling location in person.

Directions on how to request an absentee ballot vary by state. Voters will need to check their state’s requirements.

Completed absentee ballots can be sent by mail to the registered county election office and must be received by election day. Some states also have in-person ballot return options, where absentee ballots can be dropped off at a local election office or dropbox location. New York does not provide a dropbox option.

Early Voting

Many states offer early voting, though exact dates vary by state. In New York state, early voting is offered from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.

Early voting follows the same process as voting in person on Election Day. Voters registered within Onondaga County are eligible to vote early at any of the 10 sites in the county. Sites closest to SU’s campus include the Beauchamp Branch Library and the Syracuse Community Connections building.

What’s on the ballot

The Nov. 5 general election will include federal, state and local offices. What appears on a voter’s ballot will depend on their registered county.

In Onondaga County, the seat for the NY-22 race is on the ballot. Democratic nominee John Mannion, a state senator, is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Brandon Williams.

Mannion represents New York state’s 50th district, representing parts of Onondaga and Oswego counties. He beat Dewitt Town Councilor Sarah Klee Hood for the nomination in the June 25 Democratic primary election.

News Editor Julia Boehning contributed reporting to this article.

Published on September 1, 2024 at 11:26 pm

Contact Delia: dsrangel@syr.edu