Monday is the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 4 presidential general election, and though there is still some confusion about voter registration regulations, UF students should not worry, local voting officials said.
Events during the past few months highlight the difficulties students have when registering to vote away from home.
For example, in August, the registrar in Montgomery County, Va., told Virginia Tech students that registering outside their home state or county would cause problems for their families, according to The New York Times.
Brett Roth, director of Chomp the Vote, said students at UF shouldn't have any problems registering this election. He said voter registration guidelines can be vague, but registration is generally defined as the state or county voters feel they live in.
"Federal courts have upheld the right of students to vote in the state where you go to school," Roth said.
Pam Carpenter, supervisor of elections for Alachua County, said Florida law requires voters to be U.S. citizens and legal residents of the county and states they vote in.
Students need to decide what is in their best interest when registering for the election, she said.
Carpenter also suggested that students who feel tied to their home county should register there and vote with an absentee ballot.
"It depends on each individual," she said. "The student has to determine that for themself."
Margia Ferrer, a UF sophomore, is originally from West Palm Beach but registered to vote in Alachua County. Ferrer chose to register in the county because she currently lives in Gainesville, and it's her first time voting.
"It's such a monumental election," she said. "And Florida's a swing state."
Melissa Brinson, a UF engineering junior, registered to vote in her home state of Oklahoma because she was unsure of how to register in Alachua County with an out-of-state driver's license. She said she thinks her decision will make voting easier.
"What if I'm really busy Nov. 4? The absentee ballot gives you more time," Brinson said.
