It was nearly 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 7 — the last chance for eligible Georgia voters to register for the 2024 November election. Jimena Martinez-Dominguez ’25 had already been registered to vote, but anxiety surrounding absentee voting lingered as she sank into a black faux leather couch. 

During decisive election cycles, there are increased efforts to encourage participation in the electoral process amongst the college population throughout the United States. This year, Brandeis faced unique challenges in helping its students find voting resources for elections throughout the country. 

According to a fall 2022 study conducted by the University, nearly 66% of Brandeis students come from states outside of Massachusetts, excluding international students. In a 2023 report, the undergraduate student body represented 40 different states. Martinez-Dominguez is part of that 66%, representing the “Peach State.” In previous elections, she happened to be back at home in Atlanta, but this year she will be more than 1,000 miles away as an out of state voter. 

“I feel like everything is set, but I feel like, what if it's not?” questioned Martinez-Dominguez, in an Oct. 7 interview, after requesting an absentee ballot. Her worries felt justified after spending nearly 30 minutes troubleshooting the process.

Martinez-Dominguez encountered difficulties with the web browser, which prevented her from completing the official absentee request form. Even after filling out the form, she discovered that submitting it was just the first step. She had to download the completed application, sign it, and then re-upload it for verification before she could finish the process.

“It was annoying that it was not compatible with Safari,” Martinez-Dominguez said. “If I had known that from the beginning, it would have been a lot easier.” She adds that the additional little steps would need to be completed in one sitting or else, in Martinez-Dominguez’s world, it would “slip [her] mind.” 

For Hannah Henris ’26, from the Bronx, New York, she said she had no knowledge of the process for absentee voting. While she is not well versed in the civic engagement process, there are issues that stand out to her.

“Immigration is something that is important to me, especially having parents that are immigrants,” Henris said in an interview during the weeks leading up to election day, adding that equitable healthcare and prison reform are other top issues. 

Her parents immigrated from Ghana to create a better life for their family and she emphasized the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is one that shouldn't be taken away. “If I am being honest I don't know much about the new stuff that’ll be passed. I don't know about specific policies but I know I just don't want [Former President Donald] Trump to be president again,” Henris said.  

For many other Brandeis students from swing states, overcoming the challenges of voting while at university is especially important, given the significant impact their votes have in the outcome of the election. This year, it was projected that only seven states could sway the outcome — Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina. 

Allison Weiner ’25, a Michigan voter, used absentee voting for the first time, but expressed disappointment of not experiencing the symbolicalness of voting in person.

“It's my first time voting for a president so I'm a little sad I don't get to actually go to the polls and get a fun sticker,” Weiner said in an Oct. 6 interview. “But the process itself has been really easy.” 

They choose to remain registered in MI for numerous reasons, particularly the evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans which makes MI a swing state. 

“I come from an incredibly purple state and this is the first time in modern history that both my state legislature and executive branch have been blue,” Weiner said. “However, most municipal governments outside of the Metro-Detroit area are dominated by Republicans and the Senate and Presidential race are both incredibly close this year. I absolutely feel like my vote is critical in determining the immediate future of both our country but also what life looks like back home for my state specifically.”  

For many, this election raises concerns of what another Trump presidency would look like. 

“I think we’ve all seen the state of the world under Donald Trump,” said Emma Liu ’25, who emphasizes the importance of remaining registered in swing states. The neuroscience major from Las Vegas believes her vote will be “better served in Nevada” despite the “little time [she] spent there.” Drawing from her personal experience, Liu views voting as a “privilege,” especially given her ties to Taiwan where democratic rights are important.  

“I grew up in a country that valued its democratic rights just because of the history, so I think anything that can be done to preserve that here [in the US], should be done,” said Liu, who is motivated to vote for women’s rights and the country’s foreign relations. “I think in this country it's a privilege [to vote]. I think it should be a right. So if I have the ability to do so, I should do so.” 

Others don’t feel as hopeful. 

“No, I don’t think my vote makes a huge difference in my home state," said Ava Skladanowski ’28, a first time voter from Apex, North Carolina, who also faced difficulties with her mail-in ballot. Since 1984, NC has been won by a Republican presidential candidate, except in 2008, in which Former President Barack Obama took the state. 

“I find it difficult, especially considering that I am from North Carolina. A lot of the voting resources around [campus] are meant obviously for people from the state of Massachusetts,” Skladanowaski said. She adds that she only knows a few students who have filled in their absentee vote, but “they only know because of their parents sending them ballots or giving them instructions.”

Campus organizations have made efforts in community outreach and engagement to help voters overcome confusions and barriers. The Brandeis Library hosted three separated registration events between the months of September and October and have been providing free stamps and notary services should voter’s ballots require them. Additionally, the Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation and Brandeis VoteDeis coalition are both nonpartisan campus groups supporting voter registration and civic engagement, who have hosted events including registration status checks at large community gatherings; Celebration of Voting, where students received assistance with registration, absentee ballots, early voting and rides to the polls while being able interact with a baby goat; and watch parties for the presidential and vice presidential debates. Additionally, many students also have received emails with newsletters from both groups providing resources related to voter education. 

“What we're trying to do, as much as possible, is eliminate any barriers or minimize obstacles to voting,” said David Weinstein, the assistant director of the ENACT. 

More could be done by the University administration, according to Weinstein. 

"Most of the resources I see provided come from other student-led groups rather than the administration itself and … it can be really challenging to parse through all of the available resources to figure out what is required by your state specifically."

In a Oct. 21 email to the Brandeis community, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging LeManuel Bitsóí encouraged students to “vote at all levels in our towns, cities, counties, states, and the presidential election!” He adds that while questions and concerns surrounding the November election remained, “we have a duty to exercise our right to vote and being informed voters has never been more crucial than this year.” 

Growth, challenge and change are hallmarks of the college experience. Coming of age can be a distinctive experience of higher education. Cecilia Denis ’25, a resident of Pennsylvania, emphasized that college campuses are uniquely positioned for voter education.

“If you work at a company, they are not going to be setting up tables to make sure you register to vote … For the most part, they are going to stay out of it,” Denis said. “But this is the time period in our lives where you become able to vote, where you grow into that person who fulfills their civic duty. So I do feel like in colleges, there probably should be more about the process of voting, how to vote and why it’s important. This is the age of becoming a voter.”

For these students, and their peers the absentee voting process brings both challenges and opportunities. As many navigate the complexities of voting from afar, they remain determined to participate in an election that could shape the future of their home states and the nation. Whether facing technical difficulties or grappling with political issues, these students are finding their place in the democratic process, demonstrating that, despite the obstacles, their voices — and their votes — matter.

—Editor’s note: The Justice Editor Nemma Kalra '26 is employed by Brandeis’ Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation and did contribute to and edit this editorial.

—Editor’s note: The Justice Managing editor Eliza Bier '26 is employed by Brandeis’ Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation and did contribute to and edit this editorial.