Register your roar

By Cody Boteler on September 22, 2020

With Election Day quickly approaching, it is important to check whether you’re registered to vote and to create a plan to vote.

TurboVote, an online tool from the Office of Civic Engagement & Social Responsibility, helps users do that and more. They can check their voter registration status, register to vote, develop a plan to vote and track upcoming elections.

“It’s important for college students to be involved in the political process, because much of what students can find up and down their ballots affects their own livelihoods and that of their communities,” says Luis Sierra, assistant director for civic engagement. “Students should never underestimate the power of their voices.”

The tool connects with state websites, where users can register online or request a physical registration form, depending on their state.

In Maryland, voters can register online. TurboVote can even help students register with an on-campus address, so their ballot is cast locally in the Towson community.

It can also help users request a mail-in or absentee ballot or find information related to their in-person polling place.

“Students' voting needs are different, so TurboVote assists us in providing steps and information that are relevant and customized by state, registration status and voting method,” Sierra says.

The only information required to use TurboVote is a name, address and an email or cellphone number to get reminders for upcoming elections. Using the TurboVote platform allows Towson University to track information on how engaged students are in the political process.

TU reached record levels of voter turnout and registration in the 2018 elections, doubling turnout from the 2014 midterm elections.

More information, including about what ballots will look like or how to sign up to be an election judge/poll worker, is available online.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.