Baylor Students Preparing to Vote

National Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. On this day, citizens of the United States over age 18 will have the opportunity to vote. For many college students, this will be their first chance to vote in a national election. Baylor is committed to supporting students’ rights to vote and providing the necessary resources to help them make plans to participate in this vital part of our democracy.

As Election Day draws near, planning ahead is important. Here is a guide to preparing for Election Day.

Register to Vote or Verify Voter Registration

Every voter must be registered. This is an important step that must be completed about a month ahead of election day. For Baylor students that means you have a choice – register in your home state or register in Texas. You decide where you reside for voting purposes, but you cannot be registered in two states.

If you registered previously, visit vote.gov to determine your voter registration status.

If you are a new voter or a registered voter in another state and you opt to register to vote in Texas, you must follow the state’s voting registration process.

The deadline to register to vote in Texas is Tuesday, October 11, 2022.

Students may fill out a Texas voter registration application online, print it, and mail or deliver it to the voter registrar in McLennan County*. Mailed applications must be post marked by Tuesday, October 11.

Mail application to:
McLennan County Elections
P.O. Box 2450
Waco, TX 76703-2450

OR

Submit application in person at:
McLennan County Elections Administration Office (Records Building Basement)
214 N. 4th Street Suite 300
Waco, TX 76701

*Students registered to vote in Texas do not need a Baylor/Waco address to vote in McLennan County (Baylor’s county of residence).

Out-of-State Voter Registration

Students choosing to register in their home state – outside of the state of Texas – will need to follow the voting procedures of their state. Visit vote411.org/state name (example vote411.org/Alaska) to see registration deadlines and determine the absentee voting procedures for your state.

Once you are registered, you may select the voting option that best fits your needs:

Voting Early

National Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, but Texas and many other states also provide early voting opportunities to registered voters. In Texas, early voting occurs in person from Monday, October 24 to Friday, November 4, 2022.

There are two voting centers close to Baylor’s campus:

Waco Convention Center
100 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701

Records Building (basement of the building)
214 N. 4th Street, Suite 300
Waco, TX 76701

Voting by Mail

Voting by Mail/Absentee Ballot is encouraged for students who are registered to vote outside of Texas. Timelines and eligibility are determined by state. Learn more about voting by mail in your state at vote411.org/state name (example vote411.org/Colorado).

Vote On Election Day

On Election Day, Texas voters are required to vote in their county of residence. For most Baylor students – everyone in Waco – that will be McLennan County. Students in Dallas and satellite programs should check their county’s guidelines.

For student convenience, Baylor will provide shuttle service throughout the day to a Waco voting location.

If you are registered in Texas and wish to drive to a voting location, you may vote at any official voting location in McLennan County. See the full list here.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Election Day shuttle schedule.