As individuals who work intensively to become educated and informed, you hold great responsibilities in shaping the country. This upcoming election is critical in determining the future of our nation for the next four years and beyond.

However, many of you may have moved or switched addresses for this school year. If this is the case, it is important to update your voting address to prepare for the 2020 Presidential Election on Nov 3rd. If your address has remained the same, you should still check your voting status online. Here’s how to (and why you should) update your address.

Why: Every election, officials need the most up to date address for you to vote in the right location. This year it’s especially important because your ballot will be mailed in the first week of October in CA. Though, you can still vote in person if you want.

How: You can update your address by re-registering online at the following links (or you can check your status):

CA: https://registertovote.ca.gov/?t=s

Other states: https://www.eac.gov/voters/register-and-vote-in-your-state

Tips:

– Be sure to include your dorm/apartment number!

– Don’t forget to use your full, legal name

– Your financial aid will NOT be impacted by your voting address.

– You can learn more about voting in CA here: vote.ca.gov

Which address do I use?: If you recently moved to college, you have two options!

– Re-register to vote using your new address. This means they will mail you everything there and you will vote for candidates that represent your new address.

– Request an absentee ballot. This means they will mail you everything to your new address, but you vote for the candidates back home. Use this link to request one: https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/california/ (CA)

Methods to Vote: It’s important to plan out your preferred method of voting to make the process as easy as possible. To help, here are a few ways you can vote:

In-Person Voting

– Orange County voting centers will open on Oct 30th and close on November 3rd at 8pm

– Some of the nearest voting centers in UCI will be at the UCI Student Center Ballrooms or the University Hills Community Center

Vote By Mail

– Drop off your ballot at any outgoing mailbox by November 3rd, but try to drop it off as early as possible!

– These ballots do not require any postage stamps to be mailed (CA), so no need to spend anything to send your ballot, just make sure to fill out necessary information and sign before sending

Ballot Drop Box – Ballots received in the mail can be dropped off at any Ballot Drop Box in Orange County without any postage stamps

– A Ballot Drop Box is located in Mesa Lot 5

If you still have questions about your circumstance, you may email ucidecide@asuci.uci.edu. I will respond as soon as possible and connect you with the right resources and information!