Many Dartmouth students going abroad this fall still plan on taking part in the political process here at home by registering to cast absentee ballots in what promises to be a very close race for the presidency.
Students may obtain absentee ballots from the Hanover town clerk 30 days prior to the election. Requests must be in writing and should include the voter's name, voting address, mailing address and signature, according to the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office.
Town clerks will mail out the absentee ballots after they receive them in late October, and they may accept completed absentee ballots sent via mail until 5 p.m. on election day. If submitted in person, absentee ballots are due by 5 p.m. the day before the election.
Several students told The Dartmouth they planned to vote absentee in New Hampshire, because polls indicate the state's presidential contest may be closer than their home states, and their votes, especially for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry may put the state in the Democratic column on Election Day.
Cindy Cao '06, who will be traveling to Beijing, China during Fall term, said she is planning to vote in New Hampshire rather than in her home state of New Jersey because she feels it may help Kerry more.
"I'm going to vote here because Jersey's very Democratic," Cao said.
Ben Schwartz '06 of Maryland agreed, adding that living in New Hampshire while attending college entitles him to become active in politics here, even while he is attending the government foreign study program in London, England.
"I'm planning on voting in New Hampshire absentee because I feel that having lived in New Hampshire now for over two years and because I'm going to be living in New Hampshire for the majority of the next president's term ... I think that the stakes are higher in New Hampshire for me and for the offices themselves," Schwartz said.
Connecticut native Alyssa Palmer '06, who registered to vote in New Hampshire when she first came to Dartmouth, agreed that it was important to vote here this year.
"It's my first presidential election, and I wouldn't miss it for anything. I registered in New Hampshire when I first came to school here, I voted in the primaries, and I'm going to vote in New Hampshire for the general election because I feel that my vote would be more important here," Palmer said, adding that her vote for Kerry will make more of a difference in a swing state.
Not all students share this opinion, though. Some have decided to remain loyal to their home states because of local issues and races.
Alice Park '06 will cast her absentee vote from Edinburgh, Scotland next fall in New Jersey's election.
"That's where I'm from, and I identify most with that state," Park said.
Likewise, Sara Friesen has already applied for her absentee ballot in Connecticut. Friesen said she wanted to stay registered there because of the issues with the embattled former Gov. John Rowland who resigned last year.
