It’s a well-established norm that Hillsdale students talk a lot of politics. In this election, it’s important that students put their money where their mouth is and vote.
Students have been arguing tirelessly for and against Donald Trump, Gary Johnson, and even a few for Hillary Clinton, all semester. And if it’s not students talking about the election, it’s professors giving their take on the latest news item to come out of the respective campaigns.
But just talking about the election isn’t enough.
Even if students can’t bring themselves to vote for one of the candidates at the top of the ticket, it’s important to remember that there are many significant elections on the ballot other than the presidential race.
For most students, this means they will have to vote absentee. While many states only require an absentee ballot application be turned in a week or less before the election, some states, like Georgia, suggest that voters apply a month before the election. Today, the presidential race is only 33 days away.
Roughly 34 percent of Hillsdale students are from Michigan, with another 21 percent from Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio.
Michigan residents must apply for their absentee ballot by Nov. 5, Illinois residents must apply at least five days before the election, Indiana residents need to register eight days before the election, and Ohio residents must apply by noon, three days before the election.
The full list of absentee ballot deadlines can be found at www.vote.org.
Students can apply for an absentee ballot by contacting the city clerk of their hometown and requesting information about an absentee ballot. Those 18 years old and not yet registered to vote will also have to register to vote.
Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for an absentee ballot. It’d be pretty sad if a ballot couldn’t be counted because a last-minute mix-up by the U.S. postal service caused an absentee ballot to come late.
Students who live within a couple of hours of campus should consider driving home on election day to cast their vote in person.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a dismal 38 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in the 2012 presidential election. Hillsdale students should rise above this statistic.
Your vote matters. Don’t let apathy, homework, or even geographic distance stand in the way.
