Drexel Votes is a broad-based coalition of student organizations, schools, colleges and administrative offices committed to encouraging the entire Drexel University community — and particularly Drexel undergraduates — to become registered voters, educated and engaged citizens, and active supporters of the candidate of their choice. As the University is called upon from time to time to perform its civic duty as a forum for political discourse, we encourage all community members to register to vote and participate in every election.

The 2024 general election is on November 5. This year is a presidential election year. Voters will also be electing their representatives in Congress. In Pennsylvania, there is one U.S. senate seat up for election, as well as all seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, certain state senate seats, and important state-wide offices such as attorney general. Key dates and deadlines for voting in this election are listed in the table below:

Pennsylvania 2024 Election: Important Dates and Deadlines

Classes are canceled for Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, to give students extra time to vote; thank you to Drexel's Undergraduate Student Government Association for advocating for this decision. The University will otherwise remain open for a regular business day, but benefits-eligible professional staff can use one hour of their civic engagement time off to vote. 

You can request a mail-in or absentee ballot, check your registration status, register to vote or download a registration form, and find information about your polling place at vote.pa.gov, or call the Pennsylvania Department of State's toll-free hotline at 1.877.VOTESPA (877.868.3772). Information specific to Philadelphia, including mail ballot drop-off locations, is available from the Philadelphia City Commissioners at vote.phila.gov. Information for other states can be found at vote.org.

Pennsylvania voter registration forms are also available on campus at the front desks of Creese Student Center (3210 Chestnut Street) and the Rush Building (33rd and Cuthbert streets).

Wondering what's on the ballot? The Committee of Seventy's Voter Guide allows you to see the candidates and questions you will encounter when you vote, so you can research and plan ahead.

Resources

• Drexel Votes resource page maintained by the Drexel Libraries provides reliable sources of non-partisan information about voting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and beyond
• Frequently Asked Questions about voting, tailored to the Drexel community
• Civic Influencers (formerly known as Campus Election Engagement Project)
• Committee of Seventy: An independent and nonpartisan advocate for better government in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, offering comprehensive issue, candidate and voting guides for Pennsylvania voters.
• Election Protection: The 1.866.OUR.VOTE hotline is available year-round to address questions about the voting process or to report problems encountered on Election Day.
• The Philadelphia City Commissioners Office website has comprehensive information about how to register and vote in Philadelphia. The Commissioners have a satellite election office in West Philadelphia at 4029 Market Street, where you can get a replacement mail-in ballot or drop off your completed mail-in ballot.
• Lindy Center for Civic Engagement: Visit the Lindy Center at 3201 Cherry Street to pick up or print out a voter registration form.

Student Engagement

Follow the Drexel Undergraduate Student Association on Facebook and Instagram @drexelusga, and follow Drexel University's student fellows with the Campus Election Engagement Project @drexelvotes. You may also use and follow the hashtags #studentsvote and #drexelvotes to find updates on social media about campus voter engagement.

Passionate about politics? Consider joining a student group:

• Drexel Democrats
• Drexel University College Republicans

Staff Leave Time for Voting

Through the Civic Engagement Leave Policy, benefit-eligible professional staff members receive up to 16 hours of paid time each year to use for civic engagement activities, including one hour of paid time off to vote. Should you elect to take this benefit for voting, please record the time as “Civic Engagement Time” in your time sheet or leave report. Nonpartisan voter engagement activities such as staffing voter registration drives or Election Day polling places are also allowed under this policy but must go through the approval process described in the policy. Please note that under Drexel's Code of Conduct Policy, employees may not use this time to engage in partisan political activities such as campaigning or engagement in protests, petitions, lobbying activities or strikes.

About

Inspired by the University's commitment to civic engagement, the Drexel Votes coalition is chaired by the Office of Government and Community Relations and the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, with contributions and support from the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design BRIDGE Scholars Program, the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, Drexel Hillel, Drexel Libraries, Drexel IT, Finance and Administrative Services, Pennoni Honors College, Student Life, Undergraduate Student Government Association, University Marketing and Communications, and VisionForward. The coalition is focused on increasing the number of students who participate in the electoral process.