There are less than 45 days until election day—if you are eligible to vote in the US, it’s time to make your voting plan. For many college students, this might take a little extra planning if you are voting by mail or absentee ballot, so here is some information about your options and how to register.

Who can vote?

The short answer: US citizens at least eighteen years old.

The long answer: You need to meet the residency requirements for your state, which usually means living in that state for at least thirty days before election day.  You can be experiencing homelessness and still meet the requirements. As a US citizen, you can vote an absentee ballot from overseas, including if you are studying abroad. People in US territories cannot vote. Many people cannot vote after being convicted of a felony.

What are my options for voting?

The specificities depend on your state, but generally, you can vote in person at your assigned polling place on Nov. 5, by absentee or mail-in ballot, or in-person through early voting.

The first step to voting is to register.

If I am a student from out-of-state, do I register to vote in Illinois or my home state?

It’s up to you. College students living at school can legally vote in the city of their college address or their permanent address (but not both).

Different factors can play into your decision. If you are from a swing state, where results will be extremely close and determine the whole election, you might choose to vote absentee in that state. If you are extra passionate about a local candidate or ballot measure appearing on one ballot versus the other, you might pick that one. Maybe you just want to vote in person to get that I Voted sticker—you might choose to vote in Galesburg if you cannot travel on election day.

If you register with your Knox address, make sure to use the address of the building you actually live in, not your K-Box. However, do put your K-Box as your mailing address so that your mail-in ballot can get to you.

So how do I register?

Once again, it depends on your state, but usually your options include registering online, by mail, or in-person at your local election office or DMV. Go to vote.gov for more details and to register. You should also update your registration if you need to change your name or address.

Be aware of the registration deadlines for your state. If you miss the deadline, you can still vote a provisional ballot on election day, but it is easier to register in advance—that way, you can be sure your vote is counted, and you can still choose to vote by mail.

How do I get my mail-in or absentee ballot?

Eight states plus Washington D.C. automatically send every registered voter a mail-in ballot, but in most states, you will need to request to vote absentee. Some states require you to provide an excuse as to why you cannot vote in person on election day, and others do not.

On your state’s office of elections page, you can request your ballot and make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. You can also find instructions for returning your ballot.

If I voted in the past, do I have to re-register?

Not unless you need to update your name or address. However, it’s a good idea to check your registration. Some Republican-led states have recently been removing thousands of people from voter rolls, claiming they are “potentially not citizens,” in an attempt to suppress votes from people of color and recently naturalized citizens. Some states also remove people from the rolls if you have not voted for a certain number of years.

You did it! 

Now you can help your friends and neighbors register. You can also look up what will be on your ballot. 

For more information, check out this guide to voting as a college student.