Election Day is Nov. 5, marking the 2024 presidential election. No matter who you’re voting for, knowing how to vote is the first step toward exercising your First Amendment right and making your voice heard.
For many University of North Alabama students, this will be their first time voting in a presidential election. This guide explains how to check if you’re registered, how to find a polling location, and what you need to bring to vote.
Voting for public officials is a serious responsibility, and there are rules and regulations in place to ensure all votes are accounted for properly.
First, registering to vote. The registration deadline in Alabama is Oct. 21. You can register online at Alabama’s voting website, alabamainteractive.org/sos. After navigating there, voter registration can be found under election services.
Out-of-state Lions can check their eligibility at vote.gov. If you’re registered in your hometown, you can update your registration with your college address. If you’re not yet registered, the registration deadlines for bordering states are listed below. Be sure to use your dorm address, not your mailing address, when registering.
For nearby states, including Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, online registration closed on Oct. 7. Mississippi doesn’t allow online registration but offers a mail-in option that also closed on Oct. 7. If your home state isn’t listed, check registration deadlines at vote.gov.
Once registered, you can check your polling location online. These locations are based on your residential address and are typically public places such as schools, churches, and community centers.
Your polling location is assigned and cannot be changed. If you vote at another location, you’ll cast a provisional ballot, which records a vote from a person with questionable eligibility. This may prevent your vote from being counted.
When you arrive at your assigned polling location, you’ll need identification to vote. In Alabama, acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s license, passport or even your Mane Card, digital or physical.
From there, you’ll receive your ballot and can vote for your chosen candidates.
This guide is not comprehensive. For more information on the voting process, visit vote.gov.
