Voting to some people may mean a stressful, confusing process that isn’t worth the hassle.

But for some MSU students, voting is as easy as filling out a form and applying a stamp.

For those who prefer to vote in districts away from MSU, absentee ballots are frequently the solution. When the Nov. 7 election rolls around, few can find the time to make their way back to their home district to cast their vote, said Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for the secretary of state.

“If (students) are not registered to vote locally, they need to think about how they will cast their vote in November,” Boyd said. “If they are registered to vote at their parents’ home, and they are not planning on being there on election day, they should get an absentee ballot.”

To receive an absentee ballot, a person must first be registered to vote in that city or township, which requires having lived there for at least 30 days prior to the election. A person must be at least 18 years old.

The deadline for voter registration is Tuesday. All requests for absentee ballots must be turned in by Nov. 4.

An application for an absentee ballot can be picked up at the local clerk’s office or even downloaded from the Internet in some cities. Not all areas, such as East Lansing, have the option to download the form.

Ballots must be returned on or before election day.

This year, more students than ever may be utilizing the absentee ballot process because of new legislation requiring the address on their driver’s license and voter registration to match. Some students would prefer to vote in East Lansing.

“I would be registered to vote here, if not for that new bill,” said Reid Kinde, a finance sophomore. “I live here nine months out of the year.

“I’m pretty involved in politics around here - it affects me more.”

The new law may require more students, who often move frequently, to vote in their home district out of necessity. Not only could it be a problem to change addresses frequently, being registered in East Lansing could cause problems with their financial aid and taxes, said Jeanne Raven, president of the MSU College Democrats.

“More than ever, students are going to be voting by absentee,” Raven said. “It’s kind of a shame.

“They live here.”

Raven also believes while many may think the absentee process is confusing, the biggest problem students have with voting is just not voting at all.

“It’s another problem with our generation, being apathetic,” Raven said.