As November draws closer, so does the City of Goshen municipal election.
But if you’re planning to head out to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5, you must be registered to vote.
In Indiana, you must register to vote at least 29 days before the next election. In order to vote in the upcoming municipal election, you must register by Monday, Oct. 7.
Even if you happen to submit your voter registration after Monday, Oct. 7, you may still be able to vote, but only if you were previously registered in Indiana, according to IndianaVoters.in.gov.
If you’re planning on voting on Nov. 5, but aren’t sure how to register, here’s a guide to voting in this year’s municipal election.
How do I register to vote?
In order to register in Indiana, there are a few stipulations and requirements.
First, you need a valid Indiana Driver’s License or an Indiana State Identification Card. Out-of-state students who are planning to vote in the upcoming municipal election can receive a free Indiana State Identification Card by visiting the local Bureau of Motor Vehicles, according to IN.gov. .
Additionally, you must have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before the next general, municipal or special election. By the time Nov. 5 rolls around, Goshen College will have been in session for 70 days, so on-campus residents are cleared to vote despite this stipulation..
And finally, you must not currently be imprisoned after being convicted of a crime.
If you’re not interested in voting online, there will be several chances to vote on-campus.
Richard Aguirre, Goshen College community impact coordinator, and Allan Kauffman, former Goshen City mayor, as well as a handful of others, scheduled several opportunities for students to register to vote, beginning Monday, Sept. 30.
Students can register to vote outside of Westlawn Dining Hall, the Leaf Raker, in the Church Chapel, and during the men’s soccer game on Saturday.
How do I check my voting status?
You can check your voting status at IndianaVoters.in.gov. Simply enter your full name, your birthdate and the county of your current registration and IndianaVoters.in.gov will do the rest for you.
If you’ve registered before in the state of Indiana, you don’t need to register again unless you’ve moved, you've changed your name or if you haven't voted in the past four years.
Can I register to vote in Indiana if I’m from out-of-state?
Yes, you can. But as previously mentioned, you need either a valid Indiana Driver’s License, or an Indiana State Identification Card, which you can get at your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles. A free ID card may be issued if you are at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and you are eligible to vote.
To get an identification card, however, you need:
One document proving your identity; and
One document proving your lawful status in the United States; and
One document proving your Social Security number; and
Two documents proving your Indiana residency
Remember: College students may only register at one of two places: 1) the address they live when attending school, or 2) the address they live while not attending school.
