First-time voters will have to vote with a provisional ballot in the Nov. 7 election if a confirmation postcard is not removed from their mailboxes within three days.

Newly registered voters are receiving postcards to confirm their current addresses according to new state regulations. 

If the postcard sits in a mailbox for more than three days, it will be returned to the board of elections, and the person will not technically be registered to vote.

Jill Hazelton, co-chair of the Kent League of Women Voters, believes this could be an issue for students who are registering.

“What can happen at Kent State is sometimes the cards don’t make it to the mailbox or the student,” she said. “Or they sit there in the students’ mailbox, and they end up getting thrown away because they’re not picked up.”

If the postcards are not taken out of the mailbox, prospective voters would have to use provisional ballots at elections. 

A provisional ballot is cast when a voter’s eligibility is in question and it flags to the board of elections that they need to check the eligibility of the voter.

Several groups like Protect Choice Ohio and the League of Women Voters have been visiting campus to help register students and educate them on the new processes. 

“We’re telling students they need to get to their mailbox as quickly as possible and check their mail on a regular basis,” Protect Choice Ohio volunteer Kelly Clary said. “Take that postcard out.”

The introduction of this confirmation postcard could be especially problematic for students.

“I’m not a college student, but I remember I was lucky to check my mail once a week, so I can’t imagine students are checking it more than that,” she said. “For it to be sent back after three days is prohibiting a lot of students from being registered.”

Clary said local groups, including Kent State Votes, are currently working with the post office to try and extend that amount of time. 

This new rule came after a slew of other voting regulations were introduced earlier this year, including new voter identification requirements.

Hazelton said at the August election, there were some people having difficulties regarding the new changes.

“I understand from poll workers that people didn’t know about some of the changes,” she said. “We’re trying to let people know the changes, especially up on the campus because it does affect them in different ways than it does the general population.”

College students generally have more issues with registering and voting due to difficulties being out of state and not at their home address.

“It’s because students are so transient,” Clary said. “The way they vote at the dorm may be completely different than the way they would vote at home or the way they would vote if they move off campus.” 

The deadline to register for the upcoming Nov. 7 election is Oct. 10.

“I think anyone that is of an age that can vote, it’s important for them to take part in maintaining our democracy,” Hazelton said. “I believe that young people are our future, and they need to be involved in making our democracy strong.”

Addison Foreman is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].