Will Out-of-State Students Get to Vote in this Election?
The AUC’s out-of-state students face time constraints, and expenses as their voting options dwindle

With less than a few weeks until the 2024 presidential election, young Americans are being urged to vote. In Georgia, a battleground state, young voters have a significant impact. Many of these young voters are college students, and for out-of-state students, the options for casting their ballots are limited. As voter registration deadlines have already passed in Georgia, and are nearing for many states, out-of-state college students must quickly decide how they will vote in this historic election.
Universities across Georgia, including the Atlanta University Center (AUC), are encouraging students to get to the polls. But, the AUC’s out-of-state students face time constraints, and expenses as their voting options dwindle. Students can either cast a ballot in person in their home state or vote by mail using an absentee ballot. In Georgia, the deadline for out-of-state students to register as Georgia voters was Oct. 7. With that deadline passed, these students face difficult decisions as Election Day approaches.
Those who choose to vote back home must consider travel expenses and time constraints, as well as ensure they are registered to vote in their home state. Going back home could be extremely costly for some students and as the election is less than a month away travel tickets will be high. They would also need to navigate and find the right time to vote since most schools are usually in session for election day. Another option students who choose to travel back to vote can use is early voting. Early voting is a great way to meet time constraints as it does not have as many participants as election day. But it still brings challenges as many polling locations do not participate in Early voting, and often have different hours for early voting.
However, voting by absentee ballot may present even more challenges. Out-of-state students opting to vote by mail face time constraints and potential delays from the postal service, which can sometimes be unreliable. This could result in their ballots arriving late or not being delivered on time. Students must also be mindful of approaching absentee ballot request deadlines as well. In Georgia, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 25, but deadlines vary by state and could be sooner in some states.
Clark Atlanta University student Tewa Schuster felt the urgency to register firsthand. Schuster, an out-of-state student from Illinois, registered to vote in Georgia just days before the deadline. Initially planning to vote in Illinois, she decided that voting in Georgia made the most sense due to travel expenses and complications with her Illinois voter registration. “I want to help swing Georgia blue,” Schuster said. “I’m excited to vote, but I’m also worried about who will win. I just know my vote will count.” Schuster plans to vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.
While Schuster registered to vote in Georgia, students who missed the Georgia deadline can still vote by applying for an absentee ballot. Deadlines to apply for absentee ballots are one to two weeks before the Nov. 5 national election. Absentee voting allows out-of-state students to participate in the election without returning home.
A representative from the Fulton County Voting Office, Ms. Thomas, encourages young college voters to take advantage of absentee voting and not be swayed by concerns about its security. “Absentee voting is secure,” Thomas said. “It’s a way for people who can’t get to the polls to vote and vote early. Students should fill out absentee ballots and contact voter registration offices in their county for more help.” Thomas also encourages students to try to vote early to avoid the crowds and long wait times on Nov. 5. For AUC students registered in Georgia, early voting starts on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Both Thomas and Schuster recognize the importance of this election and the power young people have to create change through the election. Although out-of-state students face limited voting options, their vote still matters. Whether they choose to vote in person, by absentee ballot, or as a newly registered voter in Georgia. “It is imperative that young voters go out to the polls and do their homework,” said Ms. Thomas.
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