A comprehensive guide to the 2024 election

As one of the most contentious elections in U.S. history approaches, voting is more important than ever. The next President of the United States of America will be voted on on Tuesday, November 5, 2024in a certain way, will leave a huge impression on history. Given the critical nature of this election, exercising your right to vote is more important than ever. Here’s a quick guide to voting, some of the systems around voting, and informative resources about who you’ll be voting for.

The most important step before voting is completing your voter registration form. At bucknell.turbovote.orgyou can check your voter registration status and register to vote. Please note that registration ends on Monday. Oct 21so be sure to register beforehand if you want to vote!

The Bucknell Student Voting Coalition also hosts voter registration workshops for anyone who has questions about the registration process. The upcoming sessions will take place on October 8th, October 10th and October 17th from 5 to 6 p.m. in Academic West 115. If you are interested but cannot make this appointment, you can email Juliana Fedorko ’25 ([email protected]), President of the Bucknell Student Voter Coalition, for more information.

If you are already registered to vote and need to update your name, address or political party, you will need to complete the vote registration process again, which can be done through TurboVote. Registering through TurboVote will also sign you up for local, state and national election reminders.

Another important decision you need to make is where you want to vote. Since you currently live in Pennsylvania, your residency in Bucknell gives you the opportunity to vote here. One advantage to this is that Pennsylvania is a swing state, meaning that the way you vote has the potential to influence the direction Pennsylvania goes and therefore have a direct impact on the election have. However, if you are also from a swing state, you may want to vote in your home state. As with anything, it’s up to you to do a cost-benefit analysis.

There are several ways you can vote. You can vote in person on Election Day or choose to vote by mail. To vote by postal vote, you must Request your mail-in ballot before October 29th. You can also register to vote by mail through Bucknell’s TurboVote website. The deadline for returning this ballot, either in person or by mail (note that the time mail is counted is when it is received, not when it is mailed), is Tuesday, November 5th at 8:00 p.m .

Perhaps the most important decision you have to make, however, is the final one: who should you choose? If you would like to find out more information about a specific candidate before voting, we recommend Ballotpedia. By further exploring Ballotpedia, you can also learn more about each candidate’s history, stance, beliefs, and even campaign finances. Independent research is important, but it’s also important to check that the sources you use are unbiased and factual in order to get the most reliable information you need to make an informed decision. A full summary of what will be on your ballot before you vote can be found here.

Those who registered to vote from their on-campus Bucknell address can vote at one of four local polling locations. Visit Bison Votes for a list of polling locations by residence on campus. If this is your first time voting here, Pennsylvania requires a photo ID (or government-issued ID) for first-time voters. However, your BUID should meet this requirement. If you do not have your BUID, other sufficient documents include your PA driver’s license, PennDOT ID card, or passport. If a previous step fails, for example because your registration is not up to date or you do not provide ID, you may still be eligible to cast a provisional vote. You can view the status of your provisional ballot here if necessary.

In-person voting will take place on November 5th. Polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you choose to vote by mail, it is recommended that you mail your ballot no later than 10 days before the election. If the ballot is within 10 days of November 5th, it is safer to cast it rather than mail it. You can register and pick up and drop off your ballot in person at your county elections office. The Union County Election Office is located in the Union County Government Center at 155 N. 15th St, Lewisburg; Ballots can be dropped off at reception.

Once all the voting has taken place and you can sit back and watch the proverbial fireworks, you may be wondering where you can watch a live feed of the vote counting as the race to 270 begins. Associated Press is the most widely used website to watch the live broadcasts. However, it is likely that most, if not all, news outlets will report the election results to the best of their ability. Therefore, an easy option is to simply broadcast a live stream from a news organization or switch to that channel on your TV.

The Bucknellian encourages all eligible students to participate in the future of this nation. In the last 30 days alone, 302 campus members have registered to vote through TurboVote. Join the campus community by exercising our right to vote and participate in the U.S. political system. This country is shaped by its inhabitants and it is the will of the people that decides its fate.

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