Mason Students Share Why Voting at Home Matters

By: Katie Perschau, Mason Votes Contributor

Edited by: Vivien Trent, Mason Votes Copy Editor

Mason students host a kiosk in the Johnson Center on National Voter Registration Day to promote engagement in the 2024 election. Photo by: Mitchell Richtmyre

Many of Mason’s out-of-state students are preparing to vote in their home states during the 2024 presidential election, despite the existence of an on-campus polling location for residential students in Fairfax.

Even though the process may involve requesting and returning mail-in absentee ballots, soliciting help from faraway family members, or even taking a road trip back home on election day, important state and local issues are still driving them to vote in their states of origin.

When asked how they plan to vote, out-of-state students were prepared with plans that showed the different ways to vote out of state. Matteo Scalise, a Mason student from Colorado, said, “My mom will mail me the ballot and then I will mail it back.” Meagan Raubenolt, a student from Ohio, shared that she will be voting via absentee ballot. Additionally, Zev Schlossburg, a student from New Jersey, stated that he will drive back to his hometown to vote.

According to public data from Mason’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, out-of-state students make up 22% percent of the 2023-2024 student population. Many of these students return home for school breaks or plan to live in their home state after finishing school, so issues and laws in their home states can still directly affect them.

Raubenolt said she feels that voting at home on the issue of reproductive freedom is important to her because in the past, Ohio has had strict abortion laws. “Even though I’m not there, I know women that live in Ohio: my mom lives in Ohio, my female friends live in Ohio, and I might live in Ohio for the rest of my life, so I think women’s issues are the most important.” She also said that being exposed to many diverse mindsets on campus has made her excited to vote on issues in Ohio.

While moving from Colorado to Virginia has made him less enthusiastic about the election because he is separated from the results of his voting choices, Scalise is still concerned about the issues at stake in Colorado. “I am very passionate about amending the Colorado constitution to include same sex marriages, amending [it] to protect abortion, and introducing ranked choice voting to the voting system,” he said.

When asked if they felt the voting process was challenging because they attend an out-of-state school, Raubenolt, Schlossburg, and Scalise all agreed that despite the inconvenience, it is worth their time. “I don’t think [out-of-state voting] is really that difficult of a process to do,” said Raubenolt. “People talk about how difficult it is as a reason to not vote, but it’s still important because there are issues that might be fine [in Virginia], but they’re not at home.” Schlossburg, who is traveling back home to vote, stated, “I think the process is worth everyone’s time because of how important it is.”

Every vote matters in an election, and out-of-state Mason voters are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that their voices are heard.

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Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th…

Don’t Forget to VOTE!

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Photo by: Mitchell Richtmyre