With Election Day less than a week away, here is a quick guide for USC students on how and where to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
Early voting
Early voting began in California on October 7 and will end November 4, offering an early start for those who want to avoid Election Day crowds. Voters can participate in early voting events or drop off completed ballots at designated sites.
For those voting locally, The Ahmanson Senior Center at the L.A. Coliseum is the closest in-person voting site to USC. They are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and closed on the weekends. The next closest voting location to campus is Hotel Figueroa on Figueroa Street, located a 10-minute drive from campus. Their voting hours are every day until November 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. At both locations, students can vote prior to Election Day.
Vote-by-mail
In California, all active registered voters are mailed a vote-by-mail ballot 29 days before an election. Once received, ballots can be returned either by mail or in person.
Lauren Cox, a first-year law student, said it is important for voters to remember that general elections are about more than just the presidential race.
“I think when we’re younger we don’t look at all the elections, we just look at the presidential one,” Cox said. “It’s important to be informed of not just that one, but who you’re voting for as judges, as well as the statutes and regulations that they’re trying to vote for as well.”
Cox said she plans on voting using a mail-in ballot.
If returned by mail, a ballot must be filled out and mailed back before the day of election or on the day of election, in order to be received by the corresponding election office in California by November 12. But on Tuesday, the USPS issued an advisory recommending voters return their ballots by Tuesday, October 29, to ensure they are processed in time for Election Day.
Alternatively, ballots may be dropped off in person at any polling location before 8 p.m. on November 5 and by 7 p.m. any date before that.
If a voter chooses not to return their vote-by-mail ballot, they can vote in person at a polling booth between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. The poll employee must be able to verify that the vote-by-mail ballot was not returned yet.
Same day voter registration
For those who missed the registration deadline on October 21, California offers a same-day voter registration option. Eligible citizens may complete the “same day” voter registration process on Election Day.
To be eligible to vote in California, one must be a U.S. citizen, California resident, 18 years old or older on Election Day, not currently serving a sentence as a convicted felon and not be found mentally incompetent by a court.
Some students, like USC freshman Nia Lewis, plan to vote in person on Election Day.
“Just vote,” she said. “It’s easy to find on your favorite celebrities [profiles] too. They’ll usually have a link in their bio.”
Same day voter registration requires attending a local voting location to complete the process. The California Secretary of State website has provided a list of early voting locations that can be used for the same day voter registration process.
In-person voting
“I am voting, I’m gonna go in person,” says Gianna Carmenate, a USC student who said she plans to drive 40 minutes home to cast her ballot.
Carmenate also noted the importance of being well-informed on the candidates before voting instead of voting “based off a face or a name.”
For USC students hoping to vote in person, there are several ballot drop-off locations in and beyond campus, including the USC Village box next to the USC Village Lot entrance at 3301 South Hoover St. and the box at the Hyatt House Hotel on the Health Sciences Campus.
Cox added that the ability to vote is a privilege.
“Exercise the right you’ve been given, because some people don’t have it,” she said. “When you can make your voice heard, and it impacts yourself, your family, the people that you surround yourself with, it’s very important to exercise that.”
David Sosa contributed to the reporting of this article.