Your Voice Matters!
​Vote to Make Sure it's Heard!

Whether it's your first time voting or you're a seasoned election pro--it's important to make sure you're ready to cast your ballot in November. We want to make it as easy as possible.

Welcome to your one stop shop for voter registration and absentee requests. Hopefully each step explains the process pretty well,  but if you have any questions--don't hesitate to contact Maegan Detlefs, Emily Lutz, or Morgan Goracke for help. Additionally, we know we aren't experts on every state's election process. We suggest also seeking out help from your local county election office to ensure that your voter registration and absentee ballot application are done correctly.

​Disclaimer: Any third-party voter resources website linked on this page are not affiliated with nor endorsed by York College. Always use your own discretion and judgement when sharing personal information with third-party websites.

1. Register to Vote

Many of you may have already registered to vote in your home state when you got your driver’s license, but it’s still good to check just in case. Vote.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps US citizens register to vote. You can use their free tools to check if you are registered.

Check if I'm registered at vote.org

​If you need to register to vote, Vote.org can help with that as well. Additionally, Vote.gov is the US government’s official site for voter registration. It will direct you to your state’s election site.

Register to vote through vote.org

Register to vote through vote.gov

2. Apply for your Absentee Ballot

If you won’t be in your home county on November 6th, you can still vote by mail—but you’ll need to apply. Each state (and sometimes each county of a state) has a different absentee ballot application and different policies. Vote.org can take you through the absentee ballot application process and make sure you access your home county’s application.

Absentee Ballot Application through vote.org

If you would rather not share your information with a third party website, a simple Google search can often get you exactly where you need to go. Search something like “[Insert your state here] Absentee Ballot” and then look for a result that comes from your state’s Secretary of State website. ​

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are from Washington, Oregon, or Colorado, your state has automatic vote by mail. Contact your local election office to find out how to have your ballot mailed to your York College address.

3. Fill Out and Mail Your Absentee Ballot Application

​Next, you need to fill out your absentee ballot. For states that require an excuse to vote absentee, being enrolled in a college is usually an acceptable excuse—but it may vary from state to state. If your absentee ballot requires a notarized signature, Gayle Good in the President’s Office is a notary!

Once your application is complete, stick it in an envelope and write the address of where it needs to go. The address is usually your county’s election office. If you need help with the postage, you can send your ballot application free of charge in the campus bookstore.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some states allow you to apply for an absentee ballot online. This is a great option to speed up the process. Check your state’s guidelines to be sure.

4. Receive Your Ballot and Vote!

Once you’ve mailed in your application, in a few weeks you will receive your ballot in the mail. Follow the instructions on your ballot carefully, cast your vote, and mail it back. Congrats! You’ve voted!