Translated by: Ashley Herrera
On Aug. 13, the first group of students will move into their dorms at App State. As they walk around and get acquainted with their new surroundings, one man said he plans to meet as many of them as he can.
Bill Ellis, 64, lives in Watauga County and has been registering voters throughout Watauga since 2000. Most recently, he has been helping App State students register to vote.
“Now it’s not enough for people like me to sit down and vote,” Ellis said. “That’s why I’m doing it.”
For many students on campus, Nov. 5 marks the first presidential election in which they are eligible to vote. The deadline to register to vote is 5 p.m. on Oct. 11. Volunteers coming from across Watauga County said they will be on campus through the deadline to help students register to vote.
Who can register to vote?
Eligible voters must be citizens of the United States and must be 18 years old by November 5, which is Election Day. They must be registered and live in the county in which they plan to vote at least 30 days before Election Day.
How do I register?
Voters can register online or in person through their DMV locally or by mail.
In Watauga County, volunteers from the county Democratic Party can be found around campus during the registration period helping students register to vote. Forms to register or update registration by mail in North Carolina are offered at English y español.
“Voter registration is especially important because it is the first step toward political engagement among potential voters,” said Bricca Sweet, volunteer director of the Watauga County Democratic Party.
Voters can choose to register to vote in person, online or by mail. (Hayden Wittenborn)
To register to vote, voters must sign a form certifying that certain personal information is true, including:
- The voter’s legal first and last name
- Date of birth of the voter
- Voter’s driver’s license number or social security number
- Voter’s residential address
- Voter’s mailing address
Voter registration forms require both residential and mailing addresses, especially if the two addresses are different. For students living on campus, their residential and mailing addresses are typically different and both are required to be included.
Matthew Snyder, director of elections for the Watauga County Board of Elections, said both addresses must be included to verify voting eligibility.
“Residencies link you to where you should vote and what ballot you will receive,” Snyder said.
The mailing address can be from any location that is deliverable, Snyder said. The Watauga County Board of Elections will contact registrants if mail is returned undeliverable.
The Community Leadership Office maintains a list of residential addresses for each dorm on the App State campus as part of its App Votes campaign.
- Appalachian Heights Hall: 536 Bodenheimer Drive
- Appalachian Panhellenic Hall: 949 Blowing Rock Road
- Belk Residence Hall: 207 Stadium Heights Drive
- Cone Residence Hall: 135 Brown St.
- Doughton Residence Hall: 222 Hardin St.
- Frank Residence Hall: 199 Stadium Heights Drive
- Dogwood Residence Hall: 230 Hardin St.
- Laurel Creek Residence Hall: 212 Stadium Heights Drive
- Living-Learning Center: 301 Bodenheimer Drive
- Elkstone Residence Hall: 170 Locust St.
- Mountaineer Residence Hall: 71 1 Poplar Grove Road
- Mountain Laurel Residence Hall: 949 Blowing Rock Road
- Newland Residence Hall: 243 Stadium Heights Drive
- New River Residence Hall: 161 Stadium Heights Drive
- Raven Rocks Residence Hall: 176 Jack Branch Drive
- Summit Residence Hall: 240 Locust St.
- Thunder Hill Residence Hall: 228 Stadium Drive
- White Residence Hall: 140 Brown St.
Ashley Vinson, associate director of the Office of Community Leadership, said it’s important to have lists like this to provide students with the information they need to vote.
“We want to make sure all students have the information they need to make a voting plan,” Vinson said.
Voters can also provide demographic information about themselves, including their race, gender, ethnicity and political party affiliation, but these are not required to register.
Previously registered voters can update their records when they move or change addresses.
To update their registration, voters must sign forms stating their name, address and party affiliation.
When can I register to vote?
Voters may register during the early voting period if they complete same-day registration. Same-day registrants must provide documentation with proof of residency.
Voters line up to cast ballots at the polling site in Plemmons Student Union.
“We make voting as easy and straightforward as possible for our students so they can develop a lifelong commitment to their democracy,” Sweet said.
Ellis said he is excited to help inform and educate as many students on the App State campus as possible.
“If we do this every day, we will be able to achieve our goals,” Ellis said. “There is no doubt about that.”
Editor’s note: The Appalachian reached out to the Watauga County Republican Party about its efforts to register voters in the area but did not receive a response.
