As the upcoming presidential election draws near, many Georgia Southern students find themselves unsure of how and where to vote while attending school away from home.

The deadline for voter registration for the Nov. 8 election ends Oct. 11, and for a lot of students, this will be the first time they are eligible to vote in a presidential election.

Registering to vote is a privilege provided to citizens once they turn 18 years old, but many people still don’t take advantage of it.

Allie Warren, senior political science major, believes that voting is crucial.

“[Registering to vote] is important because it is important to put input to a candidate that will invoke the most change,” Warren said.

Some GS students have said that this is one of the craziest presidential elections in history and that our generation is going to make a difference in it.

“There has been no time where registering to vote and going to vote has been more necessary,” Auburn Bell, senior political science major, said.

In order to register to vote while attending Georgia Southern, there are some helpful hints and requirements that you need to know.

To register, you are required to use an address that is within the Statesboro district. Students should not use a general address for the school, such as “1332 Southern Dr.” or “97 Georgia Ave.” as ordered by the Dean of Students.

For more information about what address you should use when registering to vote, head to the Dean of Students website at students.georgiasouthern.edu/dean/. This webpage also includes links to online voter registration, absentee ballot requests and other voting resources.

Early voting will be available to members of the GS community Oct. 25-27 in the Russell Union Ballroom from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will also be a voter registration fair on Sept. 28 hosted by SGA at the Russell Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..

Students can register to vote at the Board of Elections on Main Street or online.

Voting Tips

· Do your research: Make sure your vote is as informed as possible.

· Personal values: Your values might not be necessarily the same as your friends or family.

· Registration status: Check your status online at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP before heading to your local polling place.

· Voter Identification: Bring a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license or a state issued ID, to the voting area.

· Avoid the lines: You can avoid long lines by going in the mid-morning or the early afternoon.

Steps to Online Registration

1. Go to the online registration website: https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/welcometoga.do#no-back-button

2. Click “I Want to Register to Vote!”

3. Click “Register to vote online using valid GA DL/ID# I Change Voter Information”.

3. Check off your eligibility requirements and select “Begin Voter Registration”.

4. Select “New Voter Registration” and choose your current county of residence.

5. Fill in your personal information.

6. Select your consent to use online signature.

7. Fill in your residential address and mailing address if it is different.

8. Fill in more general information including ethnicity and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

9. Review and confirm your information.

10. Hit submit and you’re all done.

Notice: Your application will undergo an approval process so it is important to double check that you are registered before actually going to vote.