Before UNC’s estimated 3,100 out-of-state undergraduate students decide whether to vote in this fall’s election, they must first answer a crucial question — where to vote.
These students have the option to register with either their home address or their on-campus address, and their choice might be swayed by the state in which they perceive their vote will have a greater impact.
While some students hail from states that tend to lean toward one party, North Carolina is a battleground state in the presidential election.
Darrin Benjumea, a sophomore from New Jersey, registered to vote in North Carolina for that exact reason.
“I feel like New Jersey always goes blue, while North Carolina is more of an on-the-edge state,” Benjumea said. “I feel like my vote would count more in North Carolina than it would in New Jersey.”
Benjumea said he plans to vote early because early voting results might influence undecided voters. He also said he wishes to avoid the Election Day rush on Nov. 6.
Lindsey Rietkerk, co-founder of Tar Heels for Obama, said out-of-state students also consider how passionately they care about local issues in their home states.
Less passionate students often miss the deadline for absentee ballots and register to vote in Orange County instead, she said.
“If (out-of-state) students are here registered locally, they’re pretty responsible and take the time to learn about local races — even if they’re not as invested because they’re only here four years,” Rietkerk said.
