Election Day is on Nov. 5 — do you have a plan to vote? Drexel University students will have the day off to allow for plenty of time to cast a ballot if you haven’t already done so. The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania passed on Oct. 21, but if you’re registered, it’s important to actually cast that ballot.
Drexel’s Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA), along with several voter advocacy organizations, has held several tabling events to help students get registered, figure out their voting registration status, learn how to vote by mail or determine what forms of ID they can bring to vote, as well as remind students that they will have no classes on Nov. 5 to have plenty of time to vote.
“I feel like this year I’m seeing so many more people registered to vote than I have in the past years,” USGA’s Civic Engagement Vice Chair Sienna Olivieri, political science ’25, said. “Because we’re in a swing state, every ad you see seems to be about the election, and every day I was seeing so many tables from so many nonprofits asking people if they’re registered to vote. I feel like people are just ready to vote and get it over with.”
In addition to USGA, the Drexel Libraries and Drexel Votes have posted FAQs and guides to help Dragons learn how to make their voices heard this Election Day. Go forth and do your civic duty!
Casting your ballot
Time is almost up to apply for a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania; applications must be received by your county’s election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. You can apply by mail, online or in-person at the election office. Mail-in ballots must be received — not simply postmarked — by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 at your County Board of Elections office (mail-in ballots cannot be returned at your polling place). It is recommended that you return your completed mail-in ballot as soon as possible, either by mail or at a ballot drop-off location. The Philadelphia City Commissioners have set up election offices and drop-off locations throughout the city, which you can search on their website. When completing a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania, be sure to seal your completed ballot in the yellow “secrecy envelope,” which goes in the larger envelope that you must sign, date and seal. You must return your own ballot; a friend or family member cannot do it for you. Once you’ve submitted your ballot, you can track its status online.
If you haven’t voted by mail prior to Election Day, you’ll be heading to your local polling place and stepping into the booth anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m (if you're in line by 8 p.m., you'll be allowed to vote). If this is your first time at your polling place, you’ll need to bring some form of ID with you, which could be your voter registration card, Pennsylvania driver’s license, passport, bank statement, paycheck or even your DragonCard, among others. If you live in one of Drexel’s residence halls, you’ll be voting at the Drexel Recreation Center at 3301 Market St.; if you live elsewhere, check where you need to go.
“We’ve been helping a lot of people find their polling location, because if they’ve moved, it’s likely that it changed,” USGA’s Civic Engagement Chair Victoria Rodríguez Villarreal, public health ’25, said. “They may have to go to the University of Pennsylvania campus area now rather than the [Rec Center] so a lot of students have been confused.”
Once you’re in the booth, it’s time to cast that ballot. It’s not a test, so you’ll be able to take a written guide in with you or read off your phone if you want to remember what choices you decided on.
You’ll see three federal races — President, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives — and four or five state races — attorney general, auditor general, treasurer, state House and in some districts, state Senate. If you want to learn more about the candidates on your ballot, the Committee of Seventy is a nonpartisan organization that shares information about Pennsylvania candidates’ backgrounds and stances and allows you to build a ballot.
Campus involvement
Just in case you haven’t heard, Drexel students will have the day off, even though campus will still be open. USGA is encouraging students to take that time to vote, whether they’re registered in Philadelphia or take a day trip back to their hometown to vote.
“Some students have been confused about that, too,” Olivieri said. “Offices will be open, but you won’t have class. Drexel Votes and USGA have worked really hard to make this a class-free day.”
For her part, Olivieri plans to get to her polling place early and remind her friends to vote. USGA will also be part of multiple events during Election Week, both before and after Nov. 5 — one of which will involve donuts.
On Nov. 4, they’ll partner with Drexel’s chapter of Civic Influencers for “Donut Forget to Vote Day,” and will hand out donuts, along with any last-minute information about polling places or their day off. Just because students are registered doesn’t mean the job is done, and a donut is always a good incentive to get the message across.
On Nov. 7, USGA will also partner with Writers Room to host an event, “Creative Kickback: Make Your Voice Heard,” to provide space for students to share and collect their thoughts surrounding the election. As an international student, Rodríguez Villarreal is interested in ways to make her voice heard even though she can’t vote.
“We’re still Drexel students and we’re still living here, so how can we express the issues we care about?” Rodríguez Villarreal said.