With the November 3 election looming on the horizon, students’ votes are more important than ever. In order for issues that directly pertain to students, such as student debt, healthcare and minimum wage, to be recognized, students need to prove their importance in the election by showing up to vote where it matters. Student voter turnout has jumped over the past decade, with 20 percent of 18 to 29 year olds voting in 2014, and 36 percent in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, 36 percent is still much too low compared to the 66 percent voter turnout by those older than 65. Luckily for Hope College students, Hope is located in one of the upcoming elections’ most important swing states, according to FiveThirtyEight, which gives student voices at Hope even more power—as long as they’re registered to vote in Michigan. So how can Hope students register in Michigan, even if they’re not from the state?
First, check your eligibility. Any U.S. citizen who is over the age of 18 and isn’t currently serving a sentence in jail can register, and in Michigan you just need to have lived as a resident for at least 30 days before the election. So yes, any student living on or near campus this semester should be eligible, even if their primary address is not in Michigan. It’s important to note that some need-based financial aid scholarships might be compromised if you register in Michigan, so you should contact financial aid before you register if this pertains to you (note: this does not include the Hope College Illinois Scholarship).
So when do you have to register by? The voter registration deadline is 15 days before the election, so you should register before October 19. For those hoping to vote by mail, it is also recommended to register at least a few weeks before the election to leave time to request a mail-in ballot, as mail has been slower during the pandemic.
Next, register to vote. If you have a Michigan State ID or driver’s license, you can easily register online at mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter. And don’t worry—you can still register without a state ID or license. As long as you have the last four digits of your Social Security number or a copy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank statement or a government document that lists your name and address, you are able to register through this downloadable application: michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf. Once you fill out the printable application, it can either be mailed to or dropped off at the Holland City Clerk Office.
While all the technicalities of registering can seem overwhelming, registering to vote as a student is much easier and quicker than it seems. And most importantly, it’s worth it. If every person on campus is able to vote in November, students’ voices can be heard louder than ever.
'A college student’s guide to registering to vote in Michigan' has 1 comment
September 11, 2020 @ 10:08 am Sarah Briggs
Grace, on behalf of the League of Women Voters here in Holland, I’d like to thank you for doing this article on voter registration. There is also much more election information available at michiganvoting.org. In addition, the League provides the nonpartisan website vote411.org about voting rights and the upcoming election November 3 (it’s searchable by your home location). Our goal is to encourage all eligible citizens to vote and to provide them with information about the candidates and the issues before them this year. To ensure their absentee ballots arrive on time, voters are strongly encouraged to mail them no later than Oct. 20. After that, voters should put their ballots in the designated drop boxes at their city or township clerk’s office. It would be great if you could help share this information.