Your Vote, Your Voice

cIcu supports non-partisan efforts engaging the higher education community in voter education and registration. We also assist our member campuses in complying with the 1998 Higher Education Act (HEA), which requires colleges and universities to make “a good-faith effort” to distribute voter registration forms to all degree- and certificate-seeking students who attend classes on campus.

At New York State private colleges and universities, students are learning the value of being active and informed citizens through efforts to encourage voter registration and turnout.

Campus voter registration and awareness campaigns are making a significant difference. Since 2000, voter turnout among college-educated youth has increased by 12% and non-college youth turnout jumped by 9%. In 2008, the turnout rate of college-educated 18 to 29 year-olds was 62%, 26% higher than the rate of non-college youth, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

Communicating With Your Students 

Click here for a sample/template letter to send to your students. Also download and distribute cIcu's QR (Quick Response) Code linking to New York State voter registration resources. (Click here to learn more about QR Code readers.)

In addition, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities offers campus voter registration resources through its "Your Vote; Your Voice" campaign.

New York State Voter Registration Resources

In order to vote in New York State, you must be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you apply and live at your present address at least 30 days before an election. Applications must be postmarked by October 8 and received by a Board of Elections not later than October 13 to be eligible to vote in the General Election.

Click here for more information and to learn about several options for registering, including:

  • In person at your county board of elections or at any New York State Agency-Based voter registration center;
  • By requesting an application to be mailed to you; calling 1-800-FOR-VOTE for one; downloading the form online; or filling in the online PDF version. In all cases, the form must be completed, signed, and mailed or delivered to your county board of elections. (Please note, while forms are available online, an online registration process is not currently permitted.)

Out-of-State Students:

Out-of-state students may register to vote by completing the National Mail Voter Registration Form:  To order a print version, contact the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (866-747-1471; HAVAinfo@eac.gov). After filling out this form, you must send it to a state or local election office for processing. See state-specific instructions included in the form for additional information. The national form also contains voter registration rules and regulations for each state and territory.

New York State Links:

National:

For more information or ideas for voter registration campaign on your campus, contact Jennifer Miller (518-436-4781; jennifer@cicu.org).