Local elections may not make national headlines, but they’re where your vote has the greatest power to shape everyday life and spark real change in your community.
By Eliza Kacic
Every election shapes our communities, but local races (though quieter) often have the most immediate impact on daily life, from housing and transportation to mental health and safety. At Binghamton, the Center for Civic Engagement has seen that while presidential years bring excitement and record student turnout, real change continues year-round through the local elections where every single vote carries powerful weight.
When people feel their vote does not matter, they are usually thinking about scale. In a national race, one ballot can seem invisible among millions. But local elections are measured in thousands, sometimes hundreds. That’s the scale where your voice is amplified, not lost!
The decisions made in towns and counties set the tone for what happens at the state and federal level. Every representative who ends up in the spotlight started out in their own neighborhood, learning how to turn community concerns into public action. Local governments are smaller and closer to the people they serve, so they can act faster and respond to problems that show up in daily life.
Voting in this cycle
Many students want to vote, but move to college and aren’t aware of their options. The CCE has been working to bridge those gaps by bringing information straight to students and making voting more accessible through a variety of initiatives.
Here’s how to make your plan to vote in the 2025 election!
Step 1: Check Your Registration Status
Throughout the semester, the CCE and student ambassadors have been tabling on campus, distributing registration forms and answering questions about the registration process. Whether you are voting locally or from home, start by taking a moment to confirm your registration, local poll site or mail ballot status directly on the NY State Board of Elections website.
Step 2: Get to Know Your Candidates and Ballot Questions
Now that you’re ready to vote, take some time to learn about what and who will be on your ballot. Every ballot looks a little different depending on where you’re registered, so understanding your local races is key!
The CCE’s Candidates and Issues on the Ballot page compiles information about New York State, Broome County and New York City elections. You can also watch short candidate interview videos produced by the CCE, featuring local leaders discussing the issues that matter most to students in a clear, accessible way.
Binghamton University’s student-run newspaper, Pipe Dream, has also published in-depth candidate questionnaires and election coverage that’s especially useful for students voting in Broome County.
For reminders, key dates and new interviews as they’re released, follow @CCEbinghamton on Instagram. The more informed you are, the stronger your vote becomes!
Step 3: Cast Your Ballot!
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Students registered with their campus address can vote right on campus at the Mandela Room in the University Union, the official on-campus polling site. The Center for Civic Engagement will host Election Day tabling outside the Mandela Room, so be sure to stop by to ask questions or grab resources while you wait!
Students registered with their off-campus address in Broome County will vote at a polling place near their residence.
Students voting absentee or by mail in New York must postmark their ballot by Election Day on November 4.
If you plan to vote early, you may cast your ballot at any polling site within your county in New York (excluding New York City). Check out the Turn Out to Vote page on the CCE’s website for more information on when and where to vote.
The Center for Civic Engagement works year-round to make sure students have what they need to participate, but the real impact happens when you take that final step: by remembering that change starts right here in your own community and casting your vote.