WCU Votes

WCU Programs

• Democracy Day: Friday, 9/15
• Constitution Day: Sunday, 9/17
• National Voter Registration Day: Tuesday, 9/19
  • Come see SDC and other community partners tabling at the Catafount from 10am-3pm on Tuesday, September 19th for a voter registration drive!
• National Voter Education Week: October 2-6
• Voter Registration Drives - Find SDC tabling around campus! 

Quick Resources:

• WCU Student Quick Voting Guide
• How Do I Vote by Mail?
• Myths vs. Facts
• Find your sample ballot

ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION

Sometimes the process of voting and registering to vote can be confusing. Here are a few helpful tips when registering to vote at WCU:

• Online Registration: If you have a valid North Carolina ID and know your social security number, you can register to vote online! Just follow the six steps below:
  1. Visit payments.ncdot.gov
  2. Click "Continue to myNCDMV Services"
  3. Select "Continue as a guest"
  4. Click "Submit a voter registration application"
  5. Enter your NC Driver License or DMV-issued ID Card number, Social Security number (SSN), & date of birth
  6. You can register to vote, update your address, & change party affiliation
• Paper Registration: There are lots of opportunities to fill out a paper registration form!
  

  • Register at a voter registration drive - each fall and spring the Student Democracy Coalition sponsors voter registration drives all across campus! Check back later for dates and locations.

  • Go to the DMV - The helpful employees at the DMV can fill out a Voter Registration card for you and print it in person. Find your local branch.
  • Go online - Download and print a paper registration. 
    

    • Once you have completed, signed, and dated your paper voter registration application y

      ou can mail the application into the county Board of Elections office or you can take it to the Board of Elections office in person:

876 Skyland Drive Suite 1
Sylva, NC 28779

Additional tips and resources:

• • Living on campus & not sure what address to enter on your voter registration form? Check out this link to find the 911 (physical) address for your residence hall or apartment: 

    WCU 911 Addresses

  • If you have registered previously, but have since moved or changed dorms, it is important to update your address. If you have changed counties, you will need to re-register. If you have moved but still reside in the same county, you can either re-register to update your address, or you can call the local Board of Elections and they will be able to assist you.

  • If you live off campus: For your residential address you will put your current off-campus address. Your mailing address is wherever you receive your mail.

  • Please remember to select your political affiliation. If you leave it blank, you will be automatically registered as an unaffiliated voter. This means you can choose which party’s ballot you want during primary elections.
  • If you are NOT registered to vote and you live in Jackson County (including WCU's residence halls), during the early voting period you can register and vote at the same time-- this is called same day voter registration. Please note that you cannot same day register on Election Day, so be sure to vote early or register ahead of time!

The Civic Engagement Action Plan 2022-2024, drafted in collaboration with the Student Democracy Coalition (SDC), the WCU Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL), and the Advisory Committee for Student Civic Engagement is an action plan that aims to increase the quality and quantity of engagement of our Catamount student body and regional constituents.

Read the Plan

The Student Democracy Coalition is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement on our campus. They are focused on voting rights and educating the student body on political topics and issues.

Learn more about the Student Democracy Coalition or call 828.227.2091 or email communityengagement@wcu.edu to learn how you can get involved!

Absentee Voting

• Anyone who is registered to vote in North Carolina may request and receive a mail-in absentee ballot for any election in which absentee voting is allowed.
• No special circumstance or reason is needed to receive and vote a mail-in absentee ballot.
• Most voters who want to vote by mail must request a ballot for each election.
• learn more and request your absentee ballot
• If you are not registered to vote in NC, you can either register in NC or see your state's voting website to request an absentee ballot.

One Stop Early Voting

An early voting location will be open in the UC Multipurpose Room.

If you are NOT registered to vote and you live in Jackson County (including WCU's residence halls), during the early voting period you can register and vote at the same time-- this is called same day voter registration. Please note that you cannot same day register on Election Day, so be sure to vote early or register ahead of time!

Election Day Polling Place for WCU On-Campus Residents:
Cullowhee Recreation Center
88 Cullowhee Mountain Rd
Cullowhee, NC 28723

While the ON-CAMPUS POLLING PLACE is open, the UC will be a NO CAMPAIGN ZONE.

As the University Center is home to an early voting site, it is important that all people who enter adhere to these rules and expectations:

• No campaigning within 50 ft. of the UC;
• No partisan literature in the UC;
• No partisan posters or events in the UC;
• No handing out partisan pamphlets;
• No partisan events/posters inside the UC;
• No going table-to-table encouraging people to vote for a particular candidate within the UC.

No matter the results, there are going to be fellow Catamounts whose candidates do not win their races. It is imperative, that we – as the Catamount Community – practice civility and remember our Catamount Community Creed through our words, actions, and responses. It is essential that we all model the way for our community and exemplify what it means to be an engaged citizen into and through our democracy’s elections. Please utilize this dialogue guide to assist in post-election conversation.