October 1, 2008

Purdue provides voter registration information to students

Information about how to register in Indiana and cast an absentee ballot, along with early voting and polling locations, is posted online at GetInvolved@Purdue - https://www.getinvolved.purdue.edu - a Web site that gives student organizations a way to reach students and advertise upcoming events.Students who want to register or find out more about how to vote in the election also can learn more at the Office of the Registrar's Web site at https://www.purdue.edu/registrar/Student%20Information/Voter_Registration.html or in the 2008 Boiler Information Guide published by the university.

Student groups also have been active in encouraging and registering other students to get involved in the upcoming election and vote, said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students.

Under Indiana law, Purdue students have the option to register to vote in Tippecanoe County or vote with an absentee ballot in the county and state where they traveled from to attend school.

The deadline for voter registration in Indiana is Monday (Oct. 6), the last day applications can be postmarked or hand delivered to the Tippecanoe County Board of Voter Registration at 310 Main St., Lafayette, IN 47901-1360.

Early voting in the Greater Lafayette area, which is open to anyone who is registered, begins Oct. 20 and continues through Nov. 2. An early voting location will be set up 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20-22 in Stewart Center under the mural.

When voting early or on Nov. 4, voters must present an Indiana or government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, Indiana photo ID card, military ID or U.S. passport. First-time Indiana voters that registered by mail and students that present their current Purdue identification as their photo ID also will need to provide proof of their residence. Acceptable documents must include their current name and address, such as an Indiana driver's license, valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document.

Voters in Tippecanoe County can vote at any of the 20 vote centers on Nov. 4. One will be located in Purdue Memorial Union.

Registered voters also can vote via absentee ballot if they are unable to vote on Election Day. Rules and deadlines for absentee ballots in Indiana are listed online at the GetInvolved@Purdue site.

For information about voter registration, contact the Tippecanoe County Voter Registration Office at (765) 423-9303 or (765) 423-9316 or e-mail electionboard@tippecanoe.in.gov

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Pablo Malavenda, (765) 494-1232, pablo@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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