BJC Designated as Polling Site for 2020 Election
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Centre County Board of Elections has announced its partnership with Penn State University to make the Bryce Jordan Center both an Election Day poll site and a location where voters can have mail-in and absentee ballots sent in.
Paige Thomas is a junior at Penn State and will be voting in her first presidential election this November.
“I think it’s amazing and a great opportunity to get people to show up from Pennsylvania that have the ability to vote in person,” Thomas said. “Hopefully get more people out there to vote.”
Thomas thinks the partnership is a chance for Penn State students to become active voters in the community.
“In college, a lot of students become more progressive and active in their community, and I think that that is so amazing to see, the fact that people are getting to truly understand the impact of voting,” Thomas said. “It’s really cool to see [students] reclaiming their voices.”
In addressing COVID-19 concerns, the size and design of the BJC polling sites will allow for proper social distancing, access to hand sanitizer stations, and an on-campus opportunity for students to get involved in the political process.
Penn State freshman and first-time voter Allison Welch is from Maryland, but she switched her voter registration to Pennsylvania due to the state’s potential deciding factor in this year’s presidential election.
“I’ve always known that I would be voting for sure because my parents always did, but over the last few years, I have really begun to understand the importance,” Welch said. “I have an opportunity to vote in Pennsylvania because I go to school here, so not taking up the opportunity would be a waste.”
The election office will open this Wednesday, and the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Oct. 19.
Students can visit https://centrecountyvotes.com/wheretovote in order to find their assigned general election poll site and for any additional information regarding voting registration.
Anjelica Rubin is a freshman majoring in journalism. to contact her, email anjelicarubin@gmail.com.
