BU Votes
BU Votes is a group of students, staff, and faculty across BU who facilitate voter registration drives with the larger purpose of fostering a culture of civic participation in BU and beyond. If students establish the practice of voting in college, we hope that it will set the pattern of a lifetime of voter participation and other civic involvement in their communities.
Follow BU Votes on Instagram at buvotes. To join BU Votes sign up here.
FAQs About Voting
How do I register to vote?
There are three ways to register to vote: in person, by mail, or online.
Do you need an ID to register to vote?
States that offer online voter registration require you to enter an in-state ID number.
If you don’t have an in-state ID, you register to vote in person or through a paper form with your social security number.
Am I eligible to vote by mail?
States’ vote by mail eligibility fall into one of three categories:
Excuse required: voters need to provide a valid excuse for not voting on Election Day.
No excuse: Any voter can vote by mail.
Universal: Voters in these states only need to request a mail-in ballot if they need their ballot mailed to a different address than where they’re registered to vote; otherwise they’ll get one automatically.
What do I do when I get my ballot?
Follow the instructions on the ballot carefully. Use your official signature (the one on your ID and/or your voter registration).
How do I return my ballot?
You may be able to drop your ballot off at a physical location like a voting center, elections office, or secure dropbox.
If you mail your ballot in, it must be postmarked. You may need to go into a post office for this.
Where do I vote in-person?
Your local elections website will have voting location information.
What is a sample ballot?
A sample ballot includes all of the questions and candidates that you’ll be voting for in a specific election.
Why should I know what's on my ballot before I cast my vote?
Previewing your ballot beforehand allows you to prepare which candidates you’re voting for and/or your answer to ballot questions. You can use this as a cheat sheet and bring it with you when you vote.
Voting Resources
TurboVote – Register to vote, check your voter registration status, or update your address.
Ballot Ready – Ballot Ready helps voters learn more about upcoming elections and their current elected officials. You can also view a live ballot so you can make informed choices before you vote.
State Voting Guides – The Campus Vote Project has individual state voting guides.
State Election Resources – Maintained by TurboVote, this site provides the below resources:
- Your state election website
- Your voter registration status
- Your local election official
- Ability to request a vote by mail ballot
Upcoming Elections
Wondering when the next 2024 election is in your state? Find your state below to check out the upcoming elections and the deadline to vote!
Alabama
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – March 5
Primary Runoff – April 16
Alaska
Democratic Presidential Primary – April 6
House & Senate Primary – August 20
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 20
Arizona
Presidential Primary – March 19
House & Senate Primary – August 6
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 20
Arkansas
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – April 2
State Executive or Legislative Primary – April 2
California
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – March 5
State Executive or Legislative Primary – March 5
Colorado
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – June 25
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 25
Connecticut
Presidential Primary – May 2
House & Senate Primary – August 13
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 13
Delaware
Presidential Primary – April 2
House & Senate Primary – September 10
State Executive or Legislative Primary – September 10
District of Columbia
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – June 4
Florida
Presidential Primary – March 19
House & Senate Primary – August 20
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 20
Georgia
Presidential Primary – March 12
House & Senate Primary – May 21
State Executive or Legislative Primary – May 21
Primary Runoff – June 18
Hawaii
Republican Presidential Primary – March 12
Democratic Presidential Primary – April 6
House & Senate Primary – August 10
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 10
Idaho
Republican Presidential Primary – March 2
Democratic Presidential Primary – May 23
House & Senate Primary – May 21
State Executive or Legislative Primary – May 21
Illinois
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – March 19
State Executive or Legislative Primary – March 19
Indiana
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – May 7
State Executive or Legislative Primary – May 7
Iowa
Presidential Primary – January 15
House & Senate Primary – June 4
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 4
Kansas
Presidential Primary – March 19
House & Senate Primary – August 6
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 6
Kentucky
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – May 21
State Executive or Legislative Primary – May 21
Louisiana
Presidential Primary – March 23
Maine
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – June 11
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 11
Maryland
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – May 14
Massachusetts
Presidential Primary – March 5
Michigan
Presidential Primary – February 27
House & Senate Primary – August 6
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 6
Minnesota
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – August 13
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 13
Mississippi
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – March 12
Primary Runoff – April 2
Missouri
Republican Presidential Primary – March 2
Democratic Presidential Primary – March 23
House & Senate Primary – August 6
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 6
Montana
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – June 4
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 4
Nebraska
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – May 14
State Executive or Legislative Primary – May 14
Nevada
Democratic Presidential Primary – February 6
Republican Presidential Primary – February 8
House & Senate Primary – June 11
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 11
New Hampshire
Presidential Primary – January 23
House & Senate Primary – September 10
State Executive or Legislative Primary – September 10
New Jersey
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – June 4
New Mexico
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – June 4
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 4
New York
Presidential Primary – April 2
House & Senate Primary – June 25
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 25
North Carolina
Presidential, House & Senate Primary – March 5
State Executive or Legislative Primary – March 5
North Dakota
Presidential Primary – April 6
House & Senate Primary – June 11
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 11
Ohio
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – March 19
State Executive or Legislative Primary – March 19
Oklahoma
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – June 18
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 18
Primary Runoff – August 27
Oregon
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – May 21
State Executive or Legislative Primary – May 21
Pennsylvania
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – April 23
State Executive or Legislative Primary – April 23
Rhode Island
Presidential Primary – April 2
House & Senate Primary – September 10
State Executive or Legislative Primary – September 10
South Carolina
Democratic Presidential Primary – February 3
Republican Presidential Primary – February 24
House & Senate Primary – June 11
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 11
Primary Runoff – June 25
South Dakota
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – June 4
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 4
Tennessee
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – August 1
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 1
Texas
Presidential, House, & Senate Primary – March 5
State Executive or Legislative Primary – March 5
Primary Runoff – May 28
Utah
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – June 25
State Executive or Legislative Primary – June 25
Vermont
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – August 13
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 13
Virginia
Presidential Primary – March 5
House & Senate Primary – June 18
Washington
Presidential Primary – March 12
House & Senate Primary – August 6
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 6
West Virginia
Presidential, House & Senate Primary – May 14
State Executive or Legislative Primary – May 14
Wisconsin
Presidential Primary – April 2
House & Senate Primary – August 13
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 13
Wyoming
Presidential Primary – April 13
House & Senate Primary – August 20
State Executive or Legislative Primary – August 20
