Furman University is dedicated to ensuring that eligible students, faculty, and staff are registered to vote and actively participate in the voting process. Generally speaking, to be able to vote in the United States you must be 1) a U.S. citizen and 2) 18 years old on, or before, Election Day, November 5, 2024. Be sure to check your state’s requirements to ensure that you are eligible to vote.
Voting Resources
Register to Vote
Furman students have the option to register at their home address or at Furman, but they must vote at only one location. To vote or request an absentee ballot, you must be registered. The deadline to be registered to vote in an upcoming election varies by state. We recommend registering to vote as soon as possible.
Furman has partnered with the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge to create a voting portal where students, staff, and faculty can register to vote: Furman Voter Registration Portal
If you are already registered to vote, you should confirm your registration here.
Registering to Vote at Home
Students can register to vote from their home address/state. The voter registration portal will lead to the official website for each state. Students can also contact their local election office to request a paper application to register.
Registering to Vote at Furman
Students also have the right to register at Furman. They must use their street address NOT their mailing address such as their Furman mailing box. SC requires people to be registered to vote 30 days before Election Day. By using this address to register to vote, students are declaring it their legal residence, and the SC DMV requires their driver’s license to reflect that. For example:
Poteat Hall – Furman University
Room xxxx
3300 Poinsett Hwy
Greenville, SC 29617
Your mailing address should include your mailbox number. For example:
PMB 10000 3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613
SC requires people to be registered to vote 30 days before Election Day. By using this address to register to vote, students are declaring it their legal residence.
Voting
Furman has class on Election Day, so if you plan to vote in Greenville or at home, you still must develop a plan to vote. The voting options available to you are:
- Absentee voting
- In-person voting on Election Day, or
- Early in-person voting
Voting Absentee
You can request an absentee ballot. Voting absentee means that a ballot will be sent to your Furman mailing address around 30 days before the election. You should complete the ballot and mail it back to your home election office. Students planning to vote absentee should request their ballot now. You can request an absentee ballot here or through your state’s election office. Here are the state-specific deadlines for requesting an absentee ballot.
If you will be living abroad during the election, you can use this federal website to register to vote and request your ballot.
Voting In-Person
To vote in-person, students will need to find their polling place ahead of time. Additionally, many states require some form of photo identification. Check your state’s website to see your polling location and what the acceptable forms of ID are.
Voting Early
You have the option to vote early in-person. The number of days of early voting varies by state. See the Early Voting dates for your state here. If you plan to go home to vote early, find your state’s window, put it on your calendar, and identify your early voting polling location. The same voter ID requirements apply.
Important 2024 Dates
- September 17 – National Voter Registration Day
- Dins Vote will host an event and help students register to vote
- October 6 – Last Day to be Registered to Vote in SC
- November 5 – Election Day
FAQ
Furman students have the option to register at their home address or at Furman, but they must vote at only one location. Where you register to vote will not affect your federal financial aid, including FAFSA, Pell Grants, Perkins, or Stafford loans. If you have a scholarship funded by the state, or a privately funded scholarship designated for a local student, be sure to check the terms of your scholarship before registering at your Furman address. For more information see these resources (vote.gov; League of Women Voters – South Carolina).
You can request it as soon as January 1st of the Election Year. It’s a good idea to request a ballot as soon as you decide that you want to vote absentee. Depending on the state, the ballot will get mailed 30-45 days before the election. Carefully follow the instructions included with the ballot, fill it out, and mail it to your election office as quickly as possible. Many states allow you to track your ballot to ensure that it is received on time.
It’s a good idea to examine a sample ballot before you vote. See your state’s election office to view a sample ballot. We recommend that you learn about the candidates running for office from a diversity of sources. For local and state elections, you may want to examine local newspapers, Vote411, or Vote Smart. You can bring a voter’s guide or a sample ballot into the voting booth. Some polling places do restrict cell phone use, so bring paper copies.
Join Dins Vote! Dins Vote is a student-led, nonpartisan organization that assists students, faculty, and staff in registering to vote and offers voter education resources. Email Dins Vote ([email protected]) to join.
Follow DinsVote on Instagram (@paladinsvote).
Yes, it is. Remember that you can only vote at one location (either your home address or your Furman address). Once you register at your Furman address, your previous registration will be removed.
Reach out to Dr. David Fleming in the Politics and International Affairs department or email Dins Vote at [email protected].