Voting in the United States

Eligible RPI students should consider their right to become registered voters and exercise their right to vote. Students may choose to register in their home state and in most cases vote by absentee ballot in most elections, or they may register as a New York voter and vote in the city of Troy or other local community where they reside. An individual may only be registered to vote in one location, and must follow jurisdictional requirements to change their voting location. Students should research the opportunities available to them and consider their own personal circumstances before choosing where to register. Information is provided below for student consideration, along with links to register in all 50 states.

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Register to Vote

Registering to Vote in New York State 
The bulleted conditions are required to register in NY State.

Those wishing to register must:

  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Be a resident of the county, or of the City of New York, at least 30 days before an election;
  • Be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary, or other election in which they want to vote;
  • Not be in prison for a felony conviction;
  • Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
  • Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

To register in New York, visit the New York State the Board of Elections (BOE) Website to:

  • Register in person at all NY BOE Offices;
  • Print, complete and mail the registration form by the established deadline or;
  • Register online with a NYS driver license, permit or non-driver ID card; ZIP code currently on record with the DMV; and social security number.

Voter Registration in the Other 49 States 
Each state has specific requirements for registering to vote, absentee ballots and deadlines for each. Several websites make it easy to register on-line. Consider the following sources for information and to complete voter registration in other states.

Out-of-state students can also register here in New York's Rensselaer County by printing out a New York voter registration form and either mailing it or filling it out in person at the BOE in downtown Troy. A New York state ID is not required in either instance. See New York instructions above for more details.