Exercising the right to vote helps build a robust and equitable civic culture at Rochester.
With the US general election approaching, the University of Rochester’s Senior Leadership Group encourages faculty, staff, and students to exercise their right to vote—by absentee ballot, at an early voting site, or on Election Day on Tuesday, November 5.
Voting is one of the key activities you can take part in to contribute to our nation’s democratic process and an important way to make your voice heard on both local and national issues. Recognizing the importance of informed participation of registered voters in the election, the University has partnered with Democracy Works to create a TurboVote portal to help members of the University community register to vote, request absentee ballots, and take steps needed to participate in the 2024 election.
Preparing to vote in the election
The New York State voter registration deadline is October 26. If you have already registered, double check your registration to make sure all your information is up to date through the TurboVote portal.
The national organization VOTE411.org is also a safe and efficient way to check your voting information.
What do you do if you are a University student from another state? Where and how do you vote?
The University’s Office of Equity and Inclusion in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement offers the following guidance:
Students may choose to register to vote either at their campus address or at their home address. If they registered previously at another address, the new registration will automatically cancel their prior registration. If students choose to register at their (non-local, non-campus) home address, they can do so through the University’s TurboVote portal, which includes information on about how to request a mail-in ballot if they are not able to travel to their home address to cast their ballot in person. Students can also sign up to receive reminders by email or text through TurboVote to make sure that they don’t miss important deadlines to register or cast their ballot, regardless of where they choose to vote.
Early voting
From Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3, all eligible voters may vote early at locations in the county they reside.
- Check out hours and locations for Monroe County and Ontario County.
Beginning Saturday, October 26, the Staybridge Suites, 1000 Genesee Street—right across the river from the River Campus—will be an early-voting polling site where individuals who are registered to vote in Monroe County can cast their early vote. The Staybridge will be an early-voting site from October 26 through November 3, with hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Anyone who is registered anywhere in Monroe County (New York) can cast their ballot at any of the early-voting polling sites, including the one at the Staybridge Suites.
Voting on Election Day, November 5
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, polling sites in New York State will be open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Unlike early voting, voters who wish to cast their ballot in person on Election Day need to do so at the polling site for the Election District in which they are registered. For students who register using their campus address, the polling site will be at the Plymouth Gardens apartment building, located across the Genesee River at 1400 South Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, New York 14611.
Time off to vote
University employees who are registered voters may take off up to two hours of working time to vote at any election without losing pay if the voter does not have four consecutive hours either between the opening of the polls and the beginning of work or between the end of work and the closing of the polls. Staff can take time off at the beginning or end of their work shift or a time agreed upon with their supervisor. It’s important to work closely with your supervisor to make these arrangements in advance.
Policy on political activities
The University’s policy on political activities restricts the use of University resources to support partisan political activities. University leaders encourage everyone to carefully review the policy to understand what activities are permitted and not permitted in support of a candidate or party.
Election reflection events
The Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center is hosting election-related opportunities focused on supporting students, but which are open to all members of the University community. One such event is One Community Gathering: Post Election Drop-In Conversation, on Wednesday, November 6.
Additionally, Election Reflection Series: A Living Room Conversation, hosted by the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s Restorative Practice Team and co-sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement, Burgett Intercultural Center, Office for Residential Life & Housing Services, Medallion Leadership Program, and Student Association’s DEl Committee, will be held on five dates in October and November; see registration information.
These events are non-partisan spaces for members of the University community to discuss the US elections.