LONDON — For LSP freshman Emily Miller, voting overseas feels like a heavy burden.

As an American citizen studying abroad, Miller had to apply for an absentee ballot and had the option send in her official voting ballot either by email or postal mail.

“I think [the absentee voting process] is extremely complicated and frustrating but [I] still want to vote,” Miller said. “Now it’s just more of a burden than a duty.

Miller is not the only one with such sentiments. Students, who are voting during their first semesters abroad said the varying voting processes across the nation has caused a considerable amount of confusion.

But Nigel Freeman, assistant director of Student Life, encourages students to take advantage of their time in England during the elections.

Freeman has been providing information for students who are voting by posting instructions about registration on the London blog and holding a counseling session on absentee voting in the Academic Center earlier this month.

“Seeing how the campaigning and the election itself unfolds from a different vantage point thousands of miles away offers multiple opportunities for students to learn and to develop cultural and personal insights,” Freeman said. “In particular, the way the U.S. is seen and presented within the U.K. media, and how local attitudes prevalent in London might challenge or re-enforce your own perspectives on what it means to be an American in the modern world.”

Clive Bloom, professor of Issues in Contemporary British Politics and Culture, said it is important for students to be involved in American politics even when they are outside the country.

“[Voting] still remains the only way people can influence events in a democracy,” Bloom said. “You don’t vote and you might get something you hadn’t planned for.”

But others said they appreciate the ability to vote.

“Of course I would’ve preferred to vote like the rest of my fellow citizens at a proper voting station, but the fact that I could still vote and got to experience this absentee voting process makes me appreciate the way our American government works,” said Bianca Petcu, a freshman in the Liberal Studies Program.

LSP freshman Ruth Rajan said living in England during her first voting year has led her to contemplate different types of government.

Rajan, who opted not to vote in this year’s election, said she has been thinking more about socialism since arriving in London.

“[Being in England] made me more apathetic toward the elections since I’m not surrounded by campaigning at all,” Rajan said. “I’ve actually grown fonder of socialism since I’ve been here, and socialism isn’t one of the main American election platforms. I like the health care system and educational system, plus higher education is much cheaper.”

Although Freeman understands the confusion some may feel while voting overseas, he said he is glad that students are still excited to vote.

“Voting from overseas can be a chore, and no doubt the process does stop some students in their tracks before they’ve even properly considered whether to engage or not,” Freeman said. “[NYU London staff and NYU Global staff] have been putting a lot of time and energy into trying to get students informed about the various aspects of voting from overseas.”

A version of this article appeared in the Monday Nov. 5 print edition. Gloria Norton is a foreign correspondent. Email her at [email protected].