“I am absentee voting,” graphic design sophomore Audrey Schreck said. “I had to send in a form requesting the absentee ballot, and I just received the ballot a few days ago. I have to send it back postmarked by Nov. 3.” 

Many Loyola students are doing the same thing.

At a school where 49 percent of the student body is from out-of-state, many Loyola students are using the mail to cast their ballots in the upcoming presidential election. Absentee voting has become a viable option for many students, especially if their home state is in the swing state column. Wherever they are casting their vote, many of Loyola’s students are voting in their first presidential election.

The Maroon Online has had a link to register for absentee voting in the upper right-hand corner of the newspaper’s homepage for weeks, and the Danna Center has hosted tables allowing students a chance to register to vote throughout the fall semester.

Most students needed very little prodding.

“I think it is very important for people to exercise their civic duty. But, be an educated  voter at the same time,” religious studies sophomore Camille DeCoursey said. As a native of New Orleans, DeCoursey said she will cast a Louisiana ballot.

L’von Collins, music business senior, said, “The process (of voting absentee) was pretty straight forward because I was already registered. I think the most important thing is that you vote and not where you vote.”

Caitlin Smith, English sophomore, said she will stick to voting in her home state of Florida because the presidential contest is expected to be close there.

“It’s important where you vote if you’re (from) a swing state,” Smith said. “I’m (claiming residency in) Florida, and my state is going to determine a lot.”

Even if a person doesn’t have options on where to vote, it’s critical to follow through and cast a ballot, mass communication sophomore Christian Plaisance said. “I don’t think it’s important where you vote from, just as long as you vote,” he said.

Still, some students like Jessica Torres, graphic design sophomore, aren’t registered. “My senior year, my civics teacher had us all register to vote,” Torres said. “I never got a confirmation or voter registration card. I didn’t realize I wasn’t registered until about a month ago. Eventually I went online and tried to register, but by then, the deadline had already passed.”

Courtney Anderson can be reached at [email protected].