The Election 2008 registration and education team has been receiving many questions about absentee ballots. So, here's a quick primer on how absentee ballots work and how you can request your absentee ballot for the election.
Generally, if you are unable to physically travel to and vote at the local polling place assigned to you, based on the address at which you registered to vote, you are qualified to vote via an absentee ballot.
College students studying out of their home area are typically eligible to vote via an absentee ballot. The rules and deadlines for each state are slightly different, so the best way to ensure that you will have access to an absentee ballot if you are registered outside the Ithaca area is to visit your state's board of elections website.
All 50 states' sites can be found at our Election Links page.
Don't delay! Most states have deadlines by which you must request your ballot and deadlines by which your ballot must be received back at the board of elections.
If you haven't registered to vote at all, it's still not too late in most states. To do so, you can either go to the website and download a New York state voter registration form -- or, for other states, a universal voter registration form -- and mail it to the indicated address. Or, you may go to 340 Egbert to pick up either form.
NY State Voter Registration Form (PDF)
Universal Voter Registration Form (PDF)
The College will mail your voter registration form for you, if you'd prefer. Drop completed voter registration forms to 340 Egbert for mailing. IC students may register using their campus address if they so choose. The polling place for those registered using their campus address is the College Circles Apartments community building.
The last day to register to be eligible to vote in the November election is October 10 in New York State. Registration forms must be postmarked by that date.
Here are links to the Board of Elections for the most requested states:
For more information about voting, registration, and candidate information, go to Voter Registration and Education page on the SACL website.
