UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State students will notice a new feature available on their LionPATH accounts in an effort by the University to encourage student voter registration and participation in elections.

Voting in local, state, and national elections is one of the most important duties of an engaged citizen. Students who are U.S. citizens have the option to vote in either their local University community — where they live for most of the year — or their hometown.

LionPATH now includes a link to the PSU Votes website on students’ landing page underneath the “Quick Links” section to make registering to vote easy for students who may have never voted prior to coming to Penn State. LionPATH also now features a voter registration section on the pre-registration pages for summer and fall 2022 course registration period, which began in February.  

To register to vote, visit the PSU Votes page on the Student Affairs website. If your address has changed, you must update your voter registration to be eligible to vote. After you have visited PSU Votes, click the blue button (top right) to confirm and proceed to the next page of the Pre-Registration Activity Guide.

Tim Balliett, director for Penn State’s Center for Character, Conscience, and Public Purpose, said the new features are designed to make voter registration more accessible to students.

“Penn State strongly encourages students to become educated and engaged citizens. A critical part of this is helping students register to vote and be informed voters,” Balliet said. “Adding the opportunity to register to vote while utilizing LionPATH and registering for courses is one more way the University can help meet this important goal.”

The last day to register to vote in the May 17 Pennsylvania primary election is May 2; students can register to vote in the Nov. 8 general election through Oct. 24. 

Anyone may request a mail-in or absentee ballot prior to Election Day. Visit the page “Why Vote” to learn more about the importance of fulfilling one’s civic duty.

Students who want to get more involved in helping their peers with the voting process can complete the application to be a PSU Votes Ambassador by Aug. 1.  Selected students will play a key role in the University’s nonpartisan program during the 2022-23 academic year.