Changes to make voting easier for students
It will now be much easier for Virginia Tech students who live on campus to vote in future elections thanks to changes approved by the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.
The Virginia Tech campus has been split into two voting precincts, which only include on-campus residents. One precinct covers the western part of the residential region and the other covers the academic region, the eastern part of the residential region, and Corps of Cadets housing in the Upper Quad.
Previously, the campus was divided into four precincts, with dividing lines passing through several dorms.
Both precincts will share the same polling location in the Commonwealth Ballroom at Squires Student Center.
“Virginia Tech Student Government Association leaders worked tirelessly to eliminate confusion and long lines at the polls for fellow students on Election Day,” said Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs. “It speaks to their desire to strengthen student’s civic engagement. Clearly the student voice matters and we salute those who helped shape these changes.”
The polling entrance to Squires will be located along College Avenue and campaign workers, pollsters, and others will be allowed to congregate in that area.
University officials worked with the Student Government Association, Montgomery County, and the Town of Blacksburg to develop the new plan after students had difficulty voting during previous elections.
“We’ve been working with the students, county, and town to improve the voting situation and we think this new plan will make it much easier for students to exercise their right to vote," said Sherwood Wilson, vice president for administration. "After the election, we will evaluate to see if additional changes might be needed."
Students wishing to vote should make sure their voter registration is up to date before Tuesday, Oct. 14 if they wish to vote in the Nov. 4 general and special election. Students may complete a voter registration application online or visit a library or post office in the county to obtain a voter registration application.
Students can stop by the voter registration office at 755 Roanoke St., Suite 1F, in Christiansburg, to fill out a change of address form.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
