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Health, Wellbeing and Belonging

Oct. 29, 2020 – Exercise your right to vote

Posted by on Thursday, October 29, 2020 in Community Messages.

Dear Students,

As Election Day approaches on Tuesday, Nov. 3, I wanted to join Chancellor Diermeier and Vanderbilt’s “Let’s Vote” project in encouraging every eligible member in our community to exercise your right to vote – and to do so as safely as possible. Voter participation in Tennessee, and across the nation, has declined precipitously in recent years, even as elections are increasingly decided along the narrowest of margins. We encourage everyone to participate in the democratic process. 

To help assist you, I wanted to share a few important reminders:

  • If you plan to vote in person in Davidson County on Election Day, remember to bring a required approved form of ID and consider bringing proof of residency if this is your first time voting in Davidson County.
  • Most students registered with an address on the Martha Rivers Ingram Commons will vote on Election Day at Murrell School (1450 14th Ave. S); Most students registered with an address on main campus will vote on Election Day at Eakin School (2500 Fairfax Ave.).
  • Don’t wear clothing or accessories or carry signs or literature supporting a particular candidate. These items are prohibited within 100 feet of a polling place.
  • VandyRide will provide a free shuttle to two voting locations on Election Day, Nov. 3. See details and sign up for a timeslot>>

For additional information, visit vanderbilt.edu/vote.

In addition, all students must follow Vanderbilt’s COVID-19 protocols:

  • Wear a mask at all times and maintain physical distance to the extent possible.
  • As a reminder, students cannot gather in groups of more than 10 people as part of the university’s Gatherings policy. This includes gatherings at locations off campus.

Vanderbilt has long fostered an environment in which diverse ideas and opinions can be expressed in our efforts to both model, and teach, the principles of open discourse. In this highly charged political environment and with these values in mind, we urge you to maintain civil discourse, now and after the election.It’s also important to realize that your friends and colleagues might be processing a lot of information and different feelings right now; sometimes it can be as important to listen as it is to talk.

As future leaders in your fields and your communities, your participation in our democratic election process is vital. Please draw on the resources Vanderbilt has made available for any assistance you may need. 

Sincerely,

Mark Bandas
Associate Provost and Dean of Students