Guidelines for student voters in upcoming Virginia gubernatorial election
With the upcoming 2009 Virginia gubernatorial election on Nov. 3, Virginia Tech would like to remind students that although the university cannot provide students with individualized advice, the university supports a student's right to vote and recommends that students exercise their rights.
Students interested in voting can follow the information listed here to either vote in person or submit an absentee ballot.
The ballots for the upcoming election will contain candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Depending on location of residence, voters will also cast ballots for Blacksburg Town Council, Blacksburg mayor, House of Delegates (12th or 7th District), Board of Supervisors, and Montgomery County School Board. Town of Christiansburg voters will have a question regarding a change of town elections from May to November. As with all constitutional voting, there will be a space for write-ins.
Students who wish to vote should make sure their voter registration is up to date before Oct. 5, which is the last day to register or update a registration. Students may go to the library or post office to obtain a voter registration application or stop by the voter registrar’s office at 755 Roanoke St., Christiansburg, Suite 1F, to fill out a change of address form. Information on polling places, candidates, election results, and materials to bring when voting is available online.
Students who are registered elsewhere in Virginia or outside the commonwealth may vote absentee. Absentee ballot applications are available at the Virginia State Board of Elections website or can be picked up at the voter registrar’s office. If mailed to the registrar, the absentee ballot must be received by Oct. 27. In-person absentee voting will begin Sept. 21, and will be available at the registrar’s office until Oct. 31.
To help ease some of the confusion that students and families may be facing, the Virginia Tech Student Government Association is helping fellow students by offering the Voter Drive Program to provide an easy and efficient way for Virginia Tech students to vote in the coming election. The Voter Drive Program offers Virginia Tech students a reliable, on-campus source to turn to for voter registration, absentee ballot voting, and voting questions or concerns. The Voter Drive Program is located in the Student Government Association office at 321 Squires Students Center on Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg.
