Editorial - Prepare for Election Day

You’ve probably seen a lot of news coverage surrounding the upcoming presidential election, and you’ve also probably heard a lot of 50-year-olds harping about how this generation isn’t invested in political discourse.

While your Facebook feed has probably been alternating between impassioned declarations about who should be the next leader of the free world to some stock variation of "Opinions on politics are stupid. Therefore, you’re all stupid," you shouldn’t let it discourage you from casting your vote this November.

If it encourages you to clean out your friends list, that’s just democracy in action. Beautiful, isn’t it?

Roughly half of the student population at West Virginia University is comprised of out-of-state students. While those students are capable of registering to vote in Monongalia County, the deadline to register has passed.

However, they can still request an absentee ballot from their home state. Most states only require an absentee ballot be returned by the regular election – Tuesday, Nov. 6 – and college students registered to vote can easily request an absentee ballot. Most states have more detailed instructions for requesting a ballot online.

Those registered to vote in Monongalia County will have a sizeable ticket in front of them, including the presidential race, the U.S. senate seat currently in contention between Republican candidate John Raese and incumbent Senator Joe Manchin (D), and the U.S. House of Representatives seat for the first district of West Virginia, currently held by David McKinley.

Monongalia County will also have nearly 90 polling locations open on election day, divided into both magisterial and senatorial districts. Area locations include Scott’s Run Settlement House, Morgantown High School, Monongalia County Court House, the First Presbyterian Church of Morgantown, the Monongalia County Health Department and North Elementary School. For a full listing of county districts, as well as driving directions to designated polling venues, visit www.monongaliacountyclerk.com.

You’re given the entire day off as a federal holiday, so remember to exercise your right to vote Nov. 6, and add your voice to the cacophony.