Everything You Need to Know for the 2024 Election
Jump to section: Getting to the Polls | In-Person Election Day Checklist | Voting By Mail Reminders | Additional Election Day Resources
Polls are open on November 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Members from the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) committee will be stationed at the Rose Garden Circle near Parrish between 8 a.m.-7 p.m. with sample ballots and answers to any last-minute voting questions.
Perhaps you’re not eligible to vote, fear not —GOTV invites EVERYONE in the community to join our celebration! Come by the Circle to ask questions, say hi, or grab a sweet treat in the morning.
The Lang Center has arranged for a food truck with free lunches from 11:30 a.m. until the food runs out. And don’t be shy, you can come by and take a picture with Phineas at our selfie station at any time.
Getting to the Polls
Times vary, but GOTV recommends you allow about 60 minutes from start to finish for your voting experience.
Polls are within walking distance to the two polling sites that serve campus for those who want to walk. Remember: your dorm determines where you vote:
- SRS (Swarthmore-Rutledge School) is at 100 College Avenue
- CADES (Children and Adult Disability and Educational Services) is at 401 Rutgers Avenue
GOTV has arranged for shuttles to leave from the Rose Garden Circle outside of Parrish to the two polling sites
- This year, the shuttle will also be making stops at the Matchbox
- While the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., shuttles run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. only
- The last shuttle will leave the Rose Garden by 7 p.m. After 7 p.m., students will need to walk to the polls
In-Person Election Day Checklist
- Take two minutes to confirm your Pennsylvania voting registration
- Know where your polling place is
- Bring your OneCard or Pennsylvania voter registration card as ID. Physical ID cards only
- Heads up: some precincts don’t allow cell phones in the voting booth. Bring a printed copy of your sample ballot for reference
- If you are IN LINE before 8pm, STAY IN LINE
- If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable about coming to vote, ignore them or report them to an Election Judge stationed at the polling place
Voting By Mail Reminders
- Pennsylvania mail-in ballots must be RECEIVED by 8 p.m. on November 5. Ballots can be mailed or returned in person to a designated location (such as a ballot drop box). The closest drop box to campus is at the Swarthmore Borough Building/Library, 121 Park Avenue
- Mail-in ballots can be tracked on-line
Additional Election Day Resources
- Pennsylvania Department of State voting hotline: 1-877-868-3772
- Election Protection, a national nonpartisan group, can answer questions about your right to vote: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
- Carebridge: an Employee Assistance Program offered to all employees to help you and your family find solutions and restore your peace of mind when dealing with life challenges, big or small. Carebridge provides the following confidential services at no cost to you:
Up to 7 free face-to-face sessions per issue, per year for each family member with licensed behavioral clinicians
Up to 6 free life coaching sessions
Basic clinical and work/life support
Unlimited access to online research and other key resources related to emotional well-being, health, relationships, legal, financial and personal/professional growth
Monthly webinars and videos, and much more.
You can view and register for upcoming Carebridge events on their events page. Log into the Carebridge website to find out more about upcoming webinars (live & recorded), support group sessions, and to sign up to receive information that's important to you as well as their monthly newsletter. Access Code: YXDEY
Selected Links:
Bright Horizons Child & Elder Care: Through Bright Horizons, College employees have access to emergency back-up child care and elder care services, both in-home and in-center, for when unanticipated needs arise. This service can be used when your child's school is closed, but Swarthmore isn't or when your child is sick and you are not able to stay home with them. Other services include academic support & enrichment for your child with tutoring and test prep, elder care and household support such as helping to find pet care and house cleaning services.
Please note: it's important to register with Bright Horizons prior to needing the service to help mitigate delays on the day in which services are needed. A minimum of 4-hours notice is required for most services.
Get started by logging into your mySwarthmore account, select the Employee link, then select the link for Bright Horizons. Next, select 'Join Today' to begin your registration. You may also contact Bright Horizons at 1.877.242.2737. The contact center is open 24/7, 365 days a year. There are no payroll deductions for this program; you pay them directly when services are rendered.
- TIAA: one of our 403b recordkeepers, is sponsoring a live webinar on Navigating Post Election and Legislative and Economic Changes on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 2-3pm. You can register here as two of their top experts on government relations and economic trends break down the impacts of the presidential and congressional races on the markets and what this means for legislative, economic and fiscal policy for Plan Sponsors, Plan Consultants and participants.
