Welcome freshmen and transfer students! Congratulations on choosing Binghamton University and deciding to join our community for the next four years, give or take.
Amidst the flurry of papers, information and events that are guaranteed to come your way over the next few months, you will probably find yourself face to face with a voter registration form. While you’ll have little trouble filling out the boxes, there is one question you should take time to consider: your address.
As a student at BU, you are allowed to choose whether to vote in Broome County or your home county. This may not be an easy choice; after all, you were most likely born and raised somewhere different. You might feel more qualified to have a say in the issues of your home county, rather those of a place you will only reside in temporarily. However, you should not be afraid to register to vote locally. I recommend that you consider registering in Broome County, and take pride in doing so.
At first, you might feel more like a visitor than a resident; you’re someone who is here for a series of four-month semesters on a brain-shaped island. But that feeling doesn’t have to last — nor should it.
If you’re living on-campus, you are a constituent of Broome County. You contribute to its economy by paying tuition to the University, patronizing the local stores and restaurants and attend local events. You’re affected by decisions that its local, state and national representatives make about college tuition, roads, minimum wage, gender equality, gun control, mass transit, parks — the list goes on.
You have every right to vote here and doing so may be the first step in integrating yourself into the local community. Some might argue that college students shouldn’t vote; they’re only temporarily residents of the region and are more invested in campus politics than local ones. However, the best way to fight the stereotype of the apathetic college student is to start caring and actually learn about the issues and act on them by voting.
Beyond local politics, your vote here may affect national politics differently than it would at home. Take the upcoming congressional election as an example. Vestal is part of the 22nd Congressional District of New York, a swing district. The current Republican U.S. Representative is retiring and his seat will be open to new candidates this November.
It is one of 30 House seats across the country currently targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is trying to reduce the Republicans’ House majority. This makes it a high-stakes election, so no matter with which party you vote, you will have the chance to stand up for your principles. If your home district is not a swing district, your congressional vote would hold more weight in Broome County.
Our country is at a time where it cannot afford political apathy. Low voter turnout continues to be an issue, while voices of prejudice and hate seem to be louder than ever. The only way to make things right is to ensure that everyone’s voices are represented by government — something that can only be accomplished from the bottom up. So, register local and, for Baxter’s sake, go vote.