A college student’s Election Day voting guide

If you are a traditional-aged student attending college, you may have turned 18 since the last national election was held in 2018. That means you are now old enough to vote and vote you should. You will need to meet a few other qualifications to vote in the general election, including having a valid Wyoming driver’s license.

Please don’t listen to those who say that your vote doesn’t matter because it actually does. In local elections, like those for city council, winners can be determined by just a few votes. Use your privilege and vote.

If you are a resident in Wyoming but haven’t registered yet, you still can vote at the polls on Election Day. If you aren’t sure where your poll location is, you will find that information on your county’s website. For Natrona County, you will find where your polling place is here. When you go to your polling place, make sure to bring identification. You can find all of the acceptable forms of identification for registering to vote here.

If you would like to see a sample ballot before you go to vote, you can find those on your county’s website. For Natrona county, a 2020 general sample ballot can be downloaded here.

According to Wyoming’s Secretary of State, Ed Buchanan, there is no threat of foreign interference or a risk to voters of contracting COVID-19 at the polling place. But, he added that misinformation spread by social media sources like Facebook and Twitter are a threat. “We have mechanisms in place where we are constantly monitoring social media for disinformation, misinformation because that’s really been the biggest threat we’ve seen this election cycle,” he said.

All polling places in Wyoming will feature personal protective equipment for poll workers. Ballots will be filled out with disposable pens. Poll workers will regularly clean all machines and other surfaces.

You may see some people at the polling place who are there to make sure that everyone who wants to vote and qualifies to vote will be able to do so. These people are known as poll watchers. They make sure that polling place workers, also known as election judges, tell every voter only what they need to know about casting their ballot. You will see them sitting behind the election judges.

Remember, it’s a great privilege and responsibility as a United States citizen to cast your vote for your candidates. Whether you consider yourself a Democrat, a Republican or an independent, you need to be sure to take the time to vote and let your voice be heard.