College students, please register to vote
As a first-time voter attending a college out of my home state, I had initially considered skipping this election cycle entirely. As a college freshman whose time is split between managing my new schedule and building a social life, registering to vote was the least of my priorities. I didn’t know how to request a mail-in ballot, and frankly I thought the hassle of mailing it back wasn’t worth it. I had figured that simply missing one election would not make much of a difference.
Unfortunately, this attitude is quite common amongst other out-of-state students. According to a 2024 study published by the VoteAmerica Research Center titled “Battleground State Universities: An Analysis of Out of State Student Registration and Voting,” 42% of out-of-state students did not register to vote in either their home state or campus state. When thousands of students decide that their vote does not matter, the numbers quickly add up, and a significant number of voices are underrepresented.
My perspective on voting changed after I joined MassPIRG, a nonprofit student activist group that taught me how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. More importantly, they showed me the true importance of participating in elections, especially as a young college voter. A small effort now is a necessary commitment to ensuring I have a say in decisions that will directly affect my future. Now, I too am actively encouraging my peers to exercise their right to vote.
With the November midterms rapidly approaching, I urge all students to register to vote and make plans to cast their ballot. Whether it is your first time voting or you have voted before, do not let a small inconvenience prevent you from an opportunity to make your voice heard. Regardless of how busy your schedule may be, registering to vote should always be a priority.