Don’t Forget to VOTE on or Before Tuesday, November 5th!

By: Patrice Pannell, Mason Votes Contributor

Are you planning on voting in the upcoming November 5th election?

Well, if you are, here’s a quick overview of all the ways that you can make your voice heard with less than a week until the polls close!

If you have questions not answered here, always refer to the Virginia Department of Elections website for the most accurate and up-to-date voter information: elections.virginia.gov

Vote Early In Person

The first way you can vote in the upcoming election is through in person early voting. Even though early voting started in Virginia on September 20th, you can still take advantage of this option through Saturday, November 2nd.

Click here to learn more about early and absentee voting in VA >

Before you show up to vote early, check your registration status or call your local registrar’s office. You can find your registrar’s phone number here.

If you missed the voter registration deadline (Oct. 15th), you can still vote with “same day registration”! Virginia voters can register in person through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration and provisional ballots >

Here are a few things to know about early in-person voting:

• The last day to vote early in person is Saturday, November 2nd.
• All localities offer early voting and you do not have to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early.
• Voters are only allowed to vote early in the jurisdiction in which they are registered. Click here to find early in-person voting locations in your jurisdiction >
• At the early voting location, you must provide your name and address and show an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement. Click here to learn more about acceptable forms of ID >
• Your George Mason University Student Photo ID is welcomed on Election Day and for early in-person voting! Vote using either your physical Mason ID card OR electronic Mason Mobile ID. However, you may not vote using a photo of your physical ID card.
• Accessible equipment and/or curbside voting is available upon request.

Vote Early by Mail (Absentee)

The next option you have is to mail in your absentee ballot either to your local general registrar’s office or returning it to a drop-off location. Unfortunately, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot has passed (Oct. 25th).

Click here to learn more about early and absentee voting in VA >

Click here to find your local voter registration office >

Here are a few things to know about absentee voting by mail:

• You must complete and return your ballot to your local general registrar’s office by 7:00pm on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5th).
• Carefully review the instructions mailed with your ballot and double-check your ballot before mailing or utilizing the drop-off option.
• You may return your absentee ballot to a drop-off location. For more information on drop off locations in your locality, review the absentee instructions provided in your absentee ballot mailing.
• If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your general registrar’s office by noon on the third day following the election (in the event that that day is a holiday, the deadline is moved to the following business day).
• You may cast an “emergency absentee ballot” if you meet specific criteria set forth by law. Click here to learn more about emergency absentee voting >
• You do not need an excuse to vote absentee in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Vote In Person on Election Day

Last but definitely not least, you have the option to vote in person on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5th)!

Click here to learn more about casting a ballot on Election Day >

Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place in VA >

Out-of-State Voters: Click here to find your local polling place by selecting your home state >

If you missed the voter registration deadline (Oct. 15th), you can still vote with “same day registration”! Virginia voters can register in-person through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot. This applies to Mason students voting on- or off-campus. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration and provisional ballots >

Here are a few things to know about voting in person on Election Day:

• Polls are open 6:00am – 7:00pm on Election Day.
• Anyone still in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote!
• Your George Mason University Student Photo ID is welcomed on Election Day! Vote using either your physical Mason ID card OR electronic Mason Mobile ID. However, you may not vote using a photo of your physical ID card. Click here to learn more about acceptable forms of ID >
• Accessible voting options are available. Click here to learn more about accessible voting >
• Mason has its own University Precinct for on-campus residents registered at their Fairfax on-campus address only, so you don’t have to leave campus to cast your ballot!
  • ONLY students registered at their current Fairfax on-campus address may vote on Election Day at the University Precinct located in Merten Hall (next to Panda Express).
  • All other Fairfax County voters must vote at their home precincts. Click here to find your local polling place >

Now that you have all of the necessary information, you are ready for Election Day. So…

Get out there and VOTE on or before November 5th!

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Note: Most of the information outlined here only applies to Virginia voters. If you are voting out-of-state, visit vote.gov/guide-to-voting and search for your home state.

Mason Students Share What’s Motivating Them in 2024

The students of COMM 145 (Newspaper Workshop I) interviewed their peers on why voting is important and which issues were influencing their vote in 2024 as part of a co-curricular class project.

Here is what they found (Part I)…

Click here to watch Part II >

Interviews by: Adriana Carvallo, Bobbie Marcoux, Angelina Mitchell, Katie Perschau, Anna Rathfon, and Ben Spitler

Video edited by: Patrice Pannell

Music Credit: Royalty-free music by: MUSIC4VIDEO

2024 Student Government Election Forum

Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Johnson Center Atrium

Mason360 RSVP Link: https://cglink.me/2d7/r2275466

This event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community.

Hosts: Student Government | Website

Event Description: Hear from Democrats at Mason and Young Republicans on issues impacting you. Topics will include the Economy, Climate Change, Abortion, Immigration, & Elections & Voting.

A Braver Campus Debate: Abortion

Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Time: 5 – 6:30pm 

Location: Merten Hall 1201

Mason360 RSVP Link: cglink.me/2d7/r2270792 (please register by Friday, September 20th)

Learn more: lead.gmu.edu/bravercampus

This event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community.

Topic: Abortion: Should there be any limitations (legal or otherwise) on a pregnant person’s ability to have an abortion?

Host: Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement

The Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE) & The Leadership Education and Development Office (LEAD) are merging to become the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement.

The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE) is partnering with Braver Angels, Bridge USA, and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni to host our very own: A Braver Campus Series. Our second event for the Fall 2024 series is a debate focused on the topic of Abortion.

A Braver Campus Debates are non-competitive, highly immersive and experiential for students. They are not performative or spectator-oriented — very different in tone and approach from televised debates that politicians engage in. Everyone in the room is invited to participate – whether they are students, faculty, staff, etc. They are moderated by an expertly trained debate chair in a light parliamentary style that guides conversation and encourages deep listening and respect. The debate is highly participatory (everyone who attends can have a chance to share their view), is highly structured (no cross talk, no shout downs), is not a competition, etc. Participants address their comments to the debate chair (a moderator from one of our co-sponsors).

VIDEO: Watch a recap of the VP debate watch party and hear student and community member reactions:

On Tuesday, October 1st, University Life and Mason Votes hosted a watch party for the Vice-Presidential Debate between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R). The event was held in the Johnson Center Atrium.

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Photos, Videos, and Interviews by: Mitchell Richtmyre, Mathilda A. Tataw, and Camila Segarra

Voiceover: Ximena Espinoza

Video Editor: Patrice Pannell

Are you registered to VOTE?!?

Don’t forget to register or verify: elections.virginia.gov/registration/how-to-register

VA Citizen Registration Portal: elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal

If you have already registered in Virginia:

Check your registration and confirm that you are registered at your current address, find your polling location, or update your registration online at elections.virginia.gov before Oct. 15, 2024.

If you need to register in Virginia:

Qualifications for voter registration: US Citizen, resident of Virginia, will be 18 years old on or before November 5, 2024 (if you are 17, you can still register and vote if you turn 18 on or before Election Day), have valid ID, and not currently convicted of a felony or judged as mentally incapacitated and disqualified to vote. Click here to learn more about voter eligibility in Virginia >

Voter Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 is the deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration. Learn more: elections.virginia.gov/registration

• NEW: Voters may register through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration >

Paper Registration: Click here to access a printable PDF Virginia Voter Registration Application >

Register Online: You may submit your registration and absentee ballot requests online, but only if you have a Virginia DMV record:

• If you have a Virginia driver’s license, you can register online. Go to: elections.virginia.gov and use the secured citizen’s portal. It takes about 2 minutes to register online, you will need your Virginia driver’s license number. The last day to register or update your registration to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 General and Special Elections is Oct. 15 postmarked by mail or in person by 5:00 p.m., or online by 11:59 p.m.
• If you don’t have a Virginia driver’s license, go to elections.virginia.gov to fill in the registration form, print it, sign it, and send it to the Department of Elections by mail. Your registration form must be postmarked by Oct.15, 2024.

Students living on the Mason’s Fairfax campus: You may register to vote from your campus address and provide your current resident hall name and dorm number. You will need to change this voting address when you move.

When registering or updating your existing Virginia voter registration:

• Provide your current residence hall’s physical building address (including your residence hall name and room number) as your RESIDENCE (Question #2) on the voter registration application, AND provide your Hub mailing address (4450 Rivanna River Way, PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030) as your MAILING ADDRESS (Question #4) on the voter registration application.

Don’t know the physical address of your residence hall? Click here to find it on the list >

If you need to register outside Virginia:

Visit vote.gov and select your home state or territory to access local voter registration deadlines, forms, and information.

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ONLY students registered at their current Fairfax campus address may vote at the University Precinct located in Merten Hall on Election Day.

All other Mason students and faculty must vote at their registered home precincts, either inside the county, within the Commonwealth or your home state.

Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place in VA >

Non-Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place by selecting your home state >

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Disclaimer: This post is intended to provide important voting information for Mason students, but always refer to the official Virginia Department of Elections website for the most accurate and up-to-date voter information and guidelines: elections.virginia.gov

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Photo by: Alexis Glenn/Creative Services

Monday may be a holiday, but don’t forget that the Virginia voter registration deadline is Tuesday, October 15, 2024!

Don’t forget to register or verify: elections.virginia.gov/registration/how-to-register

VA Citizen Registration Portal: elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal

If you have already registered in Virginia:

Check your registration and confirm that you are registered at your current address, find your polling location, or update your registration online at elections.virginia.gov before Oct. 15, 2024.

If you need to register in Virginia:

Qualifications for voter registration: US Citizen, resident of Virginia, will be 18 years old on or before November 5, 2024 (if you are 17, you can still register and vote if you turn 18 on or before Election Day), have valid ID, and not currently convicted of a felony or judged as mentally incapacitated and disqualified to vote. Click here to learn more about voter eligibility in Virginia >

Voter Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 is the deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration. Learn more: elections.virginia.gov/registration

• NEW: Voters may register through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot. Click here to learn more about same day voter registration >

Paper Registration: Click here to access a printable PDF Virginia Voter Registration Application >

Register Online: You may submit your registration and absentee ballot requests online, but only if you have a Virginia DMV record:

• If you have a Virginia driver’s license, you can register online. Go to: elections.virginia.gov and use the secured citizen’s portal. It takes about 2 minutes to register online, you will need your Virginia driver’s license number. The last day to register or update your registration to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 General and Special Elections is Oct. 15 postmarked by mail or in person by 5:00 p.m., or online by 11:59 p.m.
• If you don’t have a Virginia driver’s license, go to elections.virginia.gov to fill in the registration form, print it, sign it, and send it to the Department of Elections by mail. Your registration form must be postmarked by Oct.15, 2024.

Students living on the Mason’s Fairfax campus: You may register to vote from your campus address and provide your current resident hall name and dorm number. You will need to change this voting address when you move.

When registering or updating your existing Virginia voter registration:

• Provide your current residence hall’s physical building address (including your residence hall name and room number) as your RESIDENCE (Question #2) on the voter registration application, AND provide your Hub mailing address (4450 Rivanna River Way, PMB #, Fairfax, VA 22030) as your MAILING ADDRESS (Question #4) on the voter registration application.

Don’t know the physical address of your residence hall? Click here to find it on the list >

If you need to register outside Virginia:

Visit vote.gov and select your home state or territory to access local voter registration deadlines, forms, and information.

_____________________________________________________________

ONLY students registered at their current Fairfax campus address may vote at the University Precinct located in Merten Hall on Election Day.

All other Mason students and faculty must vote at their registered home precincts, either inside the county, within the Commonwealth or your home state.

Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place in VA >

Non-Virginia Voters: Click here to find your local polling place by selecting your home state >

_____________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: This post is intended to provide important voting information for Mason students, but always refer to the official Virginia Department of Elections website for the most accurate and up-to-date voter information and guidelines: elections.virginia.gov

Update: Watch video of the October 15th Nonpartisan Voter Engagement Webinar

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Nonpartisan Voter Engagement Webinar

Date: Tuesday, October 15th, 2024

Time: 8:00-9:00pm

Hosted by: Iota Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Theta Rho Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.

Moderator: Philip Wilkerson

Event Description: Join us for a webinar on voter engagement and participation titled “Everyone Has a Voice, Everyone Has a Vote,” hosted by the Iota Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and the Theta Rho Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Incorporated. Moderated by Brother Philip Wilkerson, this discussion features a panel of Black male participants sharing their diverse experiences as engaged citizens in the voting process. While not all guests are affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha, they will provide valuable insights on how to get involved, raise awareness about voting, and offer tips for learning about candidates and navigating the voting process. With Virginia holding elections every year and the national election approaching on November 5th, this webinar is an essential opportunity to prepare and make informed voting decisions.