See The Maroon’s guide to absentee ballot deadlines below
For the vast majority of students on Loyola’s campus, this is our first time to exercise our right to vote, yet we barely feel as though this is some milestone to celebrate. We’ve gotten through the years of seeing our parents glued to their television sets, so attentive to the news of a politician’s latest discretion. We may be deciding who to vote against or whether we should vote at all. We may even view this new privilege not as a “constitutional right,” but more or less as a chore.
We may feel that any one of our presidential candidates won’t affect us personally, but we should not allow ourselves to be swept into this frame of mind.
While not voting is a right of choice, it is also a surrender of your precious right and a shrug at our presidential candidates’ political influence, governance or relevance in this country. This matters. This does affect you, if not now, than in the years to come.
You as a voter need to be mindful of the many other offices and referendums being voted for within your home state that could have a much greater impact on you. You may be deciding your next U.S. Senator Representative. You may also be asked to vote on amendments that will affect schools and taxes in your home state.
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, nearly 49 million young people — defined between ages 18 and 29 — are eligible to vote. Nearly one-third of those voters are now eligible to vote for the first time, making 16.9 million potential new voters. For our out-of-state students, who comprise nearly 60% of our campus — based on last year’s enrollment — the problem may lie not in a distaste of voting, but possibly in the uncertainty regarding their home state’s rules in casting an absentee vote.
Please check the criteria of your state’s absentee voting regulations, as every state differs. While some states require voters to provide an excuse for absentee voting, other states offer a “no-excuse” system. Educating yourself on this voting process takes about as much time as waiting for one of the elevators in your dorms or standing in line for the vegetarian option in the OR. It’s really simple — just do it.
Change starts here — Loyola is a collective of strong activists with powerful voices that should be heard. We are the generation of innovative women and men that can change the world. While Facebook rants and Twitter feuds are a right of expression, until you cast your vote, these are lost opinions — if casting a ballot is your voice, then use it on Nov. 8.
Ballot due dates
Alabama
Application due Nov. 3
Ballot due Nov. 7
Alaska
Application due Oct. 29
Ballot due Nov. 8
Arizona
Application due Oct. 28
Ballot due Nov. 8
Arkansas
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
California
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
Colorado
Application automatic
Ballot due Nov. 8
Connecticut
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Delaware
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
District of Columbia
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
Florida
Application due Nov. 2
Ballot due Nov. 8
Georgia
Application due Nov. 4
Ballot due Nov. 8
Hawaii
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
Idaho
Application due Oct. 28
Ballot due Nov. 8
Illinois
Application due Nov. 3
Ballot due Nov. 8
Indiana
Application due Oct. 31
Ballot due Nov. 8
Iowa
Application due Nov. 4
Ballot due Nov. 8
Kansas
Application due Nov. 4
Ballot due Nov. 8
Kentucky
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
Louisiana
Application due Nov. 4
Ballot due Nov. 7
Maine
Application due Nov. 3
Ballot due Nov. 8
Maryland
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
Massachusetts
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Michigan
Application due Nov. 5
Ballot due Nov. 8
Minnesota
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Mississippi
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Missouri
Application due Nov. 2
Ballot due Nov. 8
Montana
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Nebraska
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Nevada
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
New Hampshire
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
New Jersey
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
New Mexico
Application due Nov. 4
Ballot due Nov. 8
New York
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
North Carolina
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
North Dakota
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Ohio
Application due Nov. 5
Ballot due Nov. 7
Oklahoma
Application due Nov. 2
Ballot due Nov. 8
Oregon
Application due Nov. 3
Ballot due Nov. 8
Pennsylvania
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 4
Rhode Island
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
South Carolina
Application due Nov. 4
Ballot due Nov. 8
South Dakota
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Tennessee
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
Texas
Application due Nov. 4
Ballot due Nov. 8
Utah
Application due Nov. 3
Ballot due Nov. 8
Vermont
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
Virginia
Application due Nov. 1
Ballot due Nov. 8
Washington
Application due Nov. 7
Ballot due Nov. 8
West Virginia
Application due Nov. 2
Ballot due Nov. 8
Wisconsin
Application due Nov. 3
Ballot due Nov. 8
