Voter FAQs
Should I register to vote using my home address or my campus (or local) address?
University students are permitted to register at their home address or by using their campus address. You might want to consider where it will be more convenient for you to vote, where you know more about the local political issues, and/or where you think your vote will have more impact. If you are registered at your parents’ address and then submit a registration form in the Bronx, your home registration will likely be cancelled. Keep that in mind, especially for the next election after you graduate. Of course, you are only permitted to vote once per election.
Am I eligible to vote?
To vote in NYS, you must be:
- A United States citizen
- 18 years of age (you may pre-register at 16 or 17, but cannot vote until you are 18)
- A resident of New York State and your current county, city, or village for at least 30 days before the election (Note: as a resident student at UMSV, you are considered a Bronx resident)
- Not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction
- Not adjudged mentally incompetent by a court
- Not claiming the right to vote elsewhere
Most states have similar requirements. Be sure to check your state’s voter requirements.
How to I register to vote?
In New York State, you can register online if you have a state-issued ID, or you can print and fill out a mail-in form.
I think I already registered. Or I’m wondering if they received my application. Am I registered and ready to vote?
You can check your voter registration status online.
How can I vote?
There are three ways you can vote in New York State:
- Absentee Ballot. If you will be away from home on Election Day, but still want to cast your vote there and not at your school/local address, you can request an absentee ballot from your local Board of Elections.
- Early Voting. New York has early voting at select polling locations, as do other states.
- Election Day Voting. In New York, the polls are open on Election Day from 6 AM to 9 PM.
If your family home is in another state, you can register to vote in that state (or you may register at your campus address, if you prefer).
How can I stay informed?
You can get election reminders sent via text and email from Rock the Vote!
Learn more about the issues and candidates on the ballot with Vote411.
Read, from different, credible sources, about the issues you care about. Want to check to make sure what you’re reading is true? Check it with Politifact.