Guest Column Masthead
I’m sure at this point you feel you’ve seen a lot about the 2024 Election. People calling you, texting you, coming up to you on campus urging you to vote. Having trouble working or talking through the vitriol between opposing sides. Feeling overwhelmed by the choices and the effort it may take you to research and ultimately cast your vote.
I understand and appreciate the fatigue that comes along with an election season — especially when you’re just a student trying to get through each week of class.
But I’m going to urge you to vote anyway. Because it is absolutely imperative that we not only exercise this fundamental right as students and citizens but that we develop the habits to become engaged citizens throughout our adulthood and careers.
I am the director of Government Affairs in the Executive Cabinet of Student Government and I know firsthand how hard different campus groups are working to make it easy for students to cast their votes.
Did you know that you could vote early at Talley Student Union at your convenience from Oct. 17 to Nov. 2?
Did you know that you could register or update your registration during early voting at Talley?
Did you know NC State provides resources on how to vote by mail?
In 2020, NC State had the highest voter registration rate in the ACC, and had more than an 80% participation rate in the last presidential election. This is huge, and it goes without saying that we need to keep this streak of consistently beating UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke in something.
More than that, though, that statistic embodies who we are as the Wolfpack. We think and we do. We research positions and candidates, we have meaningful conversations with our peers and we exercise our right to vote.
Beyond the presidential election, you have the opportunity to have a say in who leads the state of North Carolina, who leads our public schools, who our top attorney is, who serves on our state Supreme Court and more. At the local level, you can share who you think should serve in our state legislature and who should lead Raleigh — decisions that will impact every single day of your experience as an NC State student. You can even personally meet and talk to candidates in City of Raleigh races at an event co-hosted by Pack the Polls and Student Government.
If you’re overwhelmed by the choices, you’re not alone. Start by making a list of issues that are important to you. Maybe it’s education, maybe it’s healthcare. You can use this non-partisan resource offered by the State Board of Elections to see exactly what your ballot will look like, research candidates and even practice casting your vote. I found it really helpful to make a plan for when I get in the voting booth.
It is so important to make sure you are registered to vote. The deadline in North Carolina was Oct. 11, but you can still register or change your registration at an early voting site with a photo ID and proof of residency. Consult Pack the Polls, a fantastic NC State organization, for specific questions on your plan to vote.
Voting is a fun way to engage in civic duty. You can plan to go with friends, treat yourself to some Howling Cow after or do it quickly in between classes.
While the election can seem confusing and maybe off-putting, now is not the time to back down to a challenge. As NC State students, we are an extremely lucky bunch that we get to vote right on our campus and that our university supports us in our endeavors. We owe it to our state, our community and our university to take an interest in the policies that impact us.
Please take the time to vote this November — if for nothing else, for your future.