Everything you need to know for Election Day on Nov. 5

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On Tuesday, Nov. 5, more than the presidential election will be on the ballot. Depending on where they live, voters might choose members of Congress, state and local officials and judges or even weigh in on specific ballot measures — decisions that directly impact communities.

The word Vote. The letter O is a red checked box. While voting wasn’t always a guaranteed right in the U.S., today citizens aged 18 or older can participate in one of the most hallowed practices foundational to the American experience, regardless of race, religion, sex, disability or sexual orientation. Whether this is your first election or your 25th, take the time to ensure your voice is heard and honor the suffragettes, civil rights workers and countless others who have fought to make voting accessible.

In 2020, about two-thirds of eligible voters cast their ballot in the presidential election, but voters under age 30 represented just 15% of all 2020 voters, according to the Pew Research Center.

The University established the Pitt Votes initiative in 2019 to make it easier for the Pitt community to vote and to stimulate greater civic engagement across the student body. This nonpartisan organization provides resources to help you register to vote regardless of where you live.

Pitt has a proud tradition of opening its campuses to support the democratic process. Public service is a part of Pitt’s mission as a public university, and civic engagement is a core value of the University community.

Allegheny County is holding satellite office locations where county residents can register to vote, apply for a mail-in ballot, have it printed on site and return it to county staff. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, located near the Pittsburgh campus, is one such site.

Follow these tips to navigate Election Day with confidence. By registering to vote ahead of time, finding your polling place, knowing when polls open and close and preparing for potential wait times, you’ll be ready to make your voice heard.

Be prepared to cast your vote 🗳️

To ensure you're eligible to vote, check your state’s registration deadline and complete the process well in advance. In Pennsylvania, the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 21.
Request an absentee or vote-by-mail ballot early, if needed.
In Pennsylvania, both in-state and out-of-state college students may choose to vote at their home address where a parent or guardian still lives or at the local address where they live while attending school.
If you’ve moved since the last election, double-check your registration status to confirm everything is up-to-date and avoid any surprises.

Find your polling location, typically assigned based on the address you provided when registering to vote. On campus, Posvar Hall, Bellefield Hall and the William Pitt Union are used as polling locations, independently managed by Allegheny County officials.
Students who registered to vote in their hometown should request a vote-by-mail or absentee ballot or make arrangements to vote in person.
Double-check your state’s rules to ensure you have the necessary documentation. Some states require a government-issued ID, while others may accept student IDs or have no requirement at all.
Familiarize yourself with a sample ballot, which can help you understand all the races and measures you’ll be voting on.

Polling hours vary by state and even by county. In Pennsylvania, polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Be prepared to wait — and know your rights. Election officials are required to let you cast your ballot if you are in line by the time polls close, so don’t be discouraged by long lines.

Nichole Faina

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Everything you need to know for Election Day on Nov. 5

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