Everything Liberty students need to know about registering to vote

With the Nov. 8 elections fast approaching, Liberty’s Standing for Freedom Center is encouraging students to let their voices be heard by registering to vote in Lynchburg.

On-campus students will be eligible to vote for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 5th Congressional District, as well as the Lynchburg City Council race during the general election Nov. 8. 

Any Virginia resident who will be 18 years old by Nov. 8 is eligible to register to vote, including students who live on or off campus. On-campus students must register with their Flames Box number, which they can find in their ASIST portals or by contacting the Office of Residence Life.

Liberty students from out-of-state can temporarily update their voter registration to Virginia while they are a student and change their registration to their home state after graduation. This has no consequence on their dependency status for tax forms, financial aid or driver’s license changes.

However, students from Alaska should remember that registering to vote out-of-state can prevent them from receiving the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend.

Students can register by visiting www.liberty.edu/vote or texting “vote” to 486-83, which will direct them to the same website. In-person registration is also available at Lynchburg’s Office of the Registrar at 825 Kemper St., or the City Hall Information Desk at 900 Church St. 

Additionally, students that have a Virginia driver’s license can register to vote online at www.elections/virginia.gov/citizen-portal/index.html. 

Students that do not currently have a Virginia driver’s license can fill out an online voter registration application form and notify the Standing for Freedom Center via email at vote@liberty.edu. The Standing for Freedom Center will cover the printing cost of the completed application and deliver it to the local registrar’s office.

Christian Lasval, the director of election initiatives at the Standing for Freedom Center, encourages students to make an impact in Lynchburg by registering to vote. 

“This is an excellent time for students to start practicing their civic responsibility to vote,” Lasval said. “You have all the resources available to you, and any questions you have, you can email to us.”

Lasval also believes that voting locally makes a direct impact for Liberty students.

“For the next few years, Liberty is home,” he said. “Even though (students) may spend most of their time on campus, they will be visiting places and making purchases in the city, as well as dealing with things like Lynchburg city’s meal tax or the increased crime in Lynchburg. These are all things affected by the City Council members that govern over the city.”

Jesse Hughes, chairman of Liberty’s College Republicans club, also encourages students to register to vote locally during their time as a Liberty student.

“Policies made by local government in the area will more directly affect students than whatever is going on back home,” Hughes said. “This election will impact how much students will have to pay in local taxes, for groceries, for rent and much more. It will affect how safe Lynchburg is for students and how reliable emergency services in the
area will be.”

The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 8 general election is currently Oct. 17. Liberty’s Standing for Freedom Center will be tabling in the Montview Student Union on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students can learn more about voter registration by visiting the table. 

Smith is the news editor for the Liberty Champion