Sam Laurie would like to get married one day but that choice is literally in the hands of strangers.

As a transgender 20-year-old man, Mr Laurie said it was a tough process to watch, with hurtful campaigns plaguing media platforms. 

“Uni-aged people already have quite high levels mental health issues,” Mr Laurie said. “The plebiscite definitely adds to that.”

The TV-production student said it was hard to answer questions from family and friends about his plans for the future.

“Everyone has a goal and plan in life,” Mr Laurie said. “There’s this expectation of marriage at some point and it’s tough when you don’t even get that choice.”

Charles Sturt University student shared his story with the hope it would remind others to enroll and to vote. 

“It’s one of those things that could be easy to forget,” Mr Laurie said. “Look into all your options before you vote.”

His words follow the CSU student representative council’s social media post this week, encouraging on-campus students to update their details ahead of the plebiscite. 

Rivcoll vice-president Dom Costello said he too would vote “yes” in the plebiscite.

Mr Costello said it was an “important step in equality for everyone in Australia”. 

“I know a few people that would like the opportunity to get married,” Mr Costello said. “That’s one of the reasons why I support it.”

Despite his personal feelings, Mr Costello said he and others on the council wanted everyone to know how to vote. 

He said those, who lived on campus, did not live there permanently and might not know where their mail would be sent. 

Mr Costello said the Australian Electoral Commission had not decided if it would post to PO boxes, which created further confusion for students.

Rivcol advised students to use their parents’ address when registering and to organise for the vote to be forwarded on from there. 

Residents have until August 24 to register, surveys will be sent September 12 and need to be returned by November 7.

“We’re not going out of our way to encourage people to vote either way,” Mr Costello said. “We just want to give everyone the knowledge on how to do it.”