This upcoming Tuesday, Nov. 6, is Election Day, and if you’re registered to vote, you should head out to cast your ballot in the midterms. It is imperative for students to fulfill their civic duty and vote in the election. Brandeis was founded on principles of social justice, and Brandeisians cannot be all talk on the issues that matter to them. So if you’re registered to vote in Massachusetts and haven’t already voted early, then Nov. 6 is your last chance.
For those of you that are registered to vote in Massachusetts, the nearest polling station is Banks School at 948 Main Street. They are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. There is also an early voting station at Former Bright School at 260 Grove Street in Waltham, open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2.
Being students, getting to the polls can be tricky, since most of us don’t have cars. But don’t fret; there are a variety of resources available to get you to the polls. Here are your options:
If your polling place isn’t within walking distance, you can always ask a friend to give you a ride. True friendship means helping each other fulfill civic duties. But if that is not possible, Uber, Zipcar and the Student Union are also offering promotions to make it affordable to get to the polls on Tuesday.
The Student Union is offering free shuttles on Election Day. They will drive from the main entrance of the university at the guard booth to the Banks School and will run on a 30 minute loop from 8-10 a.m. and then again from 4-8 p.m.
If those times don’t work for you, Uber will be offering $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day. According to the most recent update on their website, to make use of the discount, make sure you have the most recent version of Uber, use the promo code that will be provided in the app on Election Day and select the most affordable option available (Uber POOL, for example). Don’t forget you can carpool, so bring your friends!
If you have a Zipcar account, they want to help you vote too. You can earn $20 in driving credit if you reserve a Zipcar and drive it to the polls between 6-10 p.m. on election night. Again, don’t forget to carpool!
The new LimeBike service allows students to ride a bike off campus to a Waltham polling location. You can then either ride the bike back or leave it outside, where it will later be collected, and head back to campus on the BranVan.
If all else fails, your own two feet are always an option.
While it is too late to get an absentee ballot for the Nov. 6 election, absentee voting is something to keep in mind for your future semesters at Brandeis. Each state has its own policy for absentee ballots, but you can typically request an absentee ballot up to a month ahead of time. If you bring your ballot to the library, they will even give you an envelope and stamp and mail it for you. Whether you are registered to vote in Massachusetts or want to make your vote count for your home state, what’s important is that you exercise your civic duty and make sure your voice is heard.
There is no excuse not to vote.
