Students: We Want You! (To Vote)

In today's political climate, it is more important than ever to get to the polls to express your voice. In the last midterms, only 42 percent of registered Americans voted, which was the lowest voter turnout since 1978. The voter turnout for college-aged individuals was even lower, with only 20 percent of millennials voting. It's important to raise these numbers this election season, as your vote on Nov. 6 matters. Government elected officials have a part in every aspect of our lives from healthcare to education to human rights and everything in between. By voting, you get to personally have a say in how you think America can do better for its citizens.

To get any excuses out of the way, here's a definitive list of what to do to get to the polls with confidence.

How to get there:

Pennsylvania registered voters can head to Pennsylvania's voting website or GetToThePolls.com to find out the closest polling location.

What you need:

-If you've voted at the polling place before, you don't need to bring ID.

-If you're a first-time voter, or if you've never voted at the polling location you need your ID. You can bring a Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT ID card, ID issued by Pennsylvania or the US government, your US passport, US military ID or even your student ID. Also, you could show an employee ID, a confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office, non-photo ID issued by Pennsylvania or the US government, a firearm permit or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or a government check that includes your name and address.

-Have no fear if you don't have one of those forms of ID; you can just fill out a provisional ballot.

"Voting is a privilege and having a larger college student vote turnout can make a huge difference in shaping and fixing our country."- Maveli Espitia '20

Still not convinced? Here are what two Scranton students have to say about why voting is essential.

"I think it’s important for students to vote in the upcoming election because the youth vote has the power to be so influential in our country. Students don’t realize that they have the power to directly influence issues that affect or could in the future. Our world seems to be going backward and young people tend to complain instead of actually doing something that can be impactful like simply voting can do so much. Older generations see the world differently and they have a larger voter outcome which is clearly seen in our country today. Voting is a privilege and having a larger college student vote turnout can make a huge difference in shaping and fixing our country. We have the ability to voice our concerns and make change for our future and generations to come. It’s about moving forward in a positive light."

Maveli Espitia '20

"Personally, I am not involved enough in politics but I know I should be. My parents are very active and they have lots of conversations about them. Through them and my personal beliefs, I know that I look for candidates that want the best for others but still don’t take away given rights. I identify as a Republican, but I feel I’m economically conservative and socially liberal. It’s also difficult to find information on the candidates and their beliefs because almost everything is biased. There’s no perfect way to vote but we are given our right at the age of 18 for a reason. This has to do with the people who run our country and if we’re not involved in that decision we can’t complain that we don’t like who’s in charge. We’re the next generation, we are the rising adults. It’s become our say and we want our children and their children to come into this world knowing the importance of who is in office and how they are running the particular position."

Allison Steitz '20

Get to the polls Nov. 6 and vote the change you wish to see in the United States!