2 weeks Ago By Matt Henson
FARGO — Every vote counts, and for thousands of college students, making their vote count could be confusing being hundreds of miles from home. It was a big day for North Dakota State University student Holliday Thorton as she headed to the polls for the first time. ADVERTISEMENT "It was confusing, I don't have my parents here and I usually ask them everything," Thorton said.
She's from Rapid City, S.D., and had to do some research about how to vote in North Dakota.
"Being able to vote here, where I am going to school and working, it's just very convenient," Thorton said. North Dakota election law requires one of four valid types of identification to cast a ballot, a North Dakota driver's license, a North Dakota non-driver's ID, a tribal ID or a long-term care certificate. For college students who are attending college outside of their home address, the process is a lot simpler.
"They can actually vote at the address that their college is at, so their university address, they just need a student voting document and their student ID to accompany their ND identification," Erika White, elections director with the North Dakota Secretary of State's Office, said. However, for out-of-state students such as Thorton, they can receive what is called a set-aside ballot. It won't be counted until they bring proof to the county auditor that they have obtained a valid form of North Dakota ID.
That must be delivered in person by Nov. 18. "It just gives them time, it gives them until the county canvassing board to obtain that valid identification," White said.
ADVERTISEMENT In Minnesota, there are no early polling locations like in North Dakota. However, voting is much easier for college students, both in-state and out-of-state students. "You got to pick one — you can either vote from where you grew up or where you came from, or where you are going to school now," Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State, said.
All you need to do is show up on Election Day at your precinct and register. You must bring an ID and proof where you are living, either on or off campus. "As long as you show those key things, you are who you say you are and you live where you say you live and in Minnesota we have a pretty wide variety and a long flexible list of things you can use to show either or both of those things," Simon said.
For Holliday, casting her ballot went smoothly, and it is a chance to have her voice heard. "I wanted to make sure that some of the beliefs I have are being kind of put out into the world and with me voting, I guess that represents a little bit of who I am," Thorton said..
