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.
BU Votes Programming
Coffee & Conversation: Countdown to the Election!
Date: Friday, November 1
Time: 4 – 5:30 pm
Location: Howard Thurman Center
RSVP: Register Here
Join us for a special edition of Coffee & Conversation, co-sponsored by the LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center and the Community Service Center, to discuss the candidates, the issues, and the memes! This is the last Coffee & Conversation before the presidential election, so you don’t want to miss it!
Managing Anxiety
Date: Monday, November 4
Time: 2:30 pm
Location: Zoom
During this session students are asked what they want to focus on. Yes, you can ask or talk about the election. This skills-based group is designed for students who want to learn techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy strategies, to help reduce anxiety. Group members can share their experiences, discuss assignments, and offer support to each other as they work towards making changes and learning to effectively manage their anxiety. Students are encouraged to practice these skills and apply them between group sessions. Hosted by BU Student Health Services.
Mindfulness Mediation
Date: Monday, November 4
Time: 5 pm
Location: Student Health Services, 881 Commonwealth Ave.
RSVP: Register Here
This group can be helpful for any kind of stress, including election stress. There is both practice and discussion around ways students can utilize these skills.
Election Pep Talks with Dean JCF
Date: Tuesday, November 5
Time: 11 am – 1 pm
Location: Dean of Students Office, GSU, second floor, Suite 204
Swing by to chat and grab a snack. Dean JCF and his team know that Election Day can bring anxiety, and you may need someone to talk to. We are here to listen.
Pause from Politics: Connection and Coloring
Date: Tuesday, November 5
Time: 12-3 pm
Location: GSU Link
Need to decompress? You need to check out Student Wellbeing’s community coloring mandala. Stop by the GSU Link to grab a coloring book – it’s all about stress relief this week and we got you covered.
Breath, Rhythm & Music for Your Wellbeing
Date: Tuesday, November 5
Time: 5 – 6 pm
Location: Howard Thurman Center
On Tuesday, November 5, 5 – 6 pm, Student Wellbeing will be hosting another workshop in the HTC as part of our “Breath, Rhythm & Music for Your Wellbeing” series. The facilitator, Dr. Igor Iwanek (CFA), has a special plan for election day and will focus on coping with socio-political stress.
Election Day Watch Party
Date: Tuesday, November 5
Time: 7:30 – 10 pm
Location: Howard Thurman Center
Come watch the election results roll in! We will be gathering at the HTC, with games, dinner, and free swag. All students are invited.
Warren Towers Watch Party
Date: Tuesday, November 5
Time: 7:45-11 pm
Location: Multi-Purpose Room, Warren Towers
Big TV, pizza and lots of seats! Join your fellow residents of Warren Towers to watch the election results
Open Office Hours: Stuvi 1
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 9 am – 5 pm, Thursday, November 7, 11 am – 5 pm, and Friday, November 8, 9 am – 5 pm.
Location: 10 Buick St
Residence Life Assistant Director Meg White will be hosting open office hours for those who may want to come talk about the election and/or the election results. Her door is open, any resident of 33 HAW is welcome to stop by.
Election Pep Talks: Wellness Edition
Date: Wednesday, November 6
Time: 11 am – 1 pm
Location: Dean’s Lounge, third floor of the GSU
The Dean of Students Office and Student Wellbeing are hosting a relaxation zone. Swing by to chat, grab a snack, paint a rock, or take a nap in a hammock.
Post Election Reflection
Date: Wednesday, November 6
Time: 1 – 5 pm
Location(s): Howard Thurman Center, Community Service Center, and LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center
A chance to journal and participate in community-building resources. You can also pick up a journal – and journal at home! Charlie, Student Health Services’ therapy dog, will also be making an appearance.
Election Pep Talks: Wellness Edition Day Two
Date: Thursday, November 7
Time: 11 am – 1 pm
Location: Dean’s Lounge, third floor of the GSU
The Dean of Students Office and Student Wellbeing are hosting a relaxation zone. It may be a stressful week for students, so swing by to chat, grab a snack, paint a rock, or take a nap in a hammock.
Matcha & Mochi Night
Date: Thursday, November 7
Time: 6 – 8 pm
Location: 610 Beacon St, English Room
Come for the matcha and mochinuts, stay for the bingo. Win prizes like cute phone decor and squishmallows!
Coffee & Conversation: The Election Is Over So What’s Next?
Date: Friday, November 8
Time: 4 – 5:30 pm
Location: HTC
RSVP: Register here
Join us for reflection and discussion of the presidential election results!
Resources
Student Wellbeing: Headspace for Mindfulness & Meditation
Student Health Services: Election Stress Toolkit
All Nonpartisan Voting Resources
Vote.org – All-in-one platform helps voters to register, verify their registration, request a mail-in ballot, sign up for election reminders, find their polling location and stay up to date on the laws or policies that affect their ability to vote.
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.
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Find your MA election information by inputing your MA state address and zip code
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
Terrier Turnout Week Events
BU Votes Civic Engagement Fair
Date: Tuesday, October 15
Time: 1 – 4 pm
Location: Marsh Plaza
Mindfullness Yoga & Smiskis
Date: Wednesday, October 16
Time: 3 – 5 pm
Location: FitRec L131
Painting n’ Sipping
Date: Wednesday, October 17
Time: 3 – 5 pm
Location: BU Beach
Democracy Pumpkin Carnival
Date: Thursday, October 18
Time: 5 – 7 pm
Location: Howard Thurman Center
Voting Scavenger Hunt
Date: Friday, October 19
Time: 2 – 5 pm
Location: Marsh Plaza
Bingo, Jeopardy, & Trivia
Date: Saturday, October 20
Time: 2 – 5 pm
Location: Community Service Center
Ready to partner with us? Pick up your BU Voter Kit and promote voter participation across campus! Just fill out the form below to get started.
BU Student Voting Results
BU All In Campus Democracy Challenge 2022 Action Plan
BU All In Campus Democracy Challenge 2022 NSLVE Reports
BU All In Campus Democracy Challenge 2020 NSLVE Reports
BU All In Campus Democracy Challenge 2018 NSLVE Reports
Voting Frequently Asked Questions
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.
What are the primaries?
Primaries are elections that allow political parties to determine the candidate who will go on to represent them in later elections. To learn more about primaries, check out this webpage from All In to Vote.