With the Nov. 5 presidential election less than one month away, there are several voting-related dates and deadlines applicable to Virginia Tech students.
While voting for the 2024 election for Virginia residents started as early as mid-September, October is an eventful month for election-related tasks. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, the deadline to register to vote or update voter registration for Virginia residents was Oct. 15.
However, people who did not register by the deadline can still vote in the upcoming election by using a provisional ballot anytime from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5.
Virginia Tech sophomore Hannah Ranberger, majoring in philosophy, politics and economics, described her voter registration experience. “They offered high school students the ability to register to vote in my high school near Northern VA, so I was registered as soon as I turned 18.”
For Virginia Tech students who are full-time Virginia residents, the last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. Virginia Tech students who are not Virginia residents can contact or search their state’s department of elections website to find their specific voting deadlines.
“I plan on voting in this election, but since we are at school, I had to register for an absentee ballot … I received a mail-in ballot to fill out here at school, but I may go vote early in my hometown,” Ranberger said regarding how she plans to vote this year.
As described by the Virginia Department of Elections, Virginia resident students who choose to vote early can do so as soon as Oct. 26 and no later than Nov. 2 at their local voter registration office. Certain Virginia counties’ early voting dates may vary. Out-of-state students who choose to vote in person must either vote in their home state or reregister to vote in Virginia.
“I don’t think a lot of my friends are voting, only a few of my friends have mentioned it to me. Being away from home makes it harder,” Ranberger said when asked if she knew whether her classmates and friends were voting.
According to the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech students who choose to vote in Blacksburg, Virginia, whether they are from Virginia or not, will vote in Montgomery County. They can vote at the Montgomery County Voter Registration Office for early or same-day voting.
For those voting in Montgomery County, the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 15, and voting lasts from Oct. 21 through Nov. 4, as described by Montgomery County’s Office of Elections. Provisional ballots are available through Nov. 5.
For further information on voting deadlines, each state’s departments of elections provide this information per their state’s policies. All voting for the 2024 presidential election ends Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.
