Students promote voting
Initiative termed Rock the Vote aims to register the University population
Emily Faber
Issue date: 9/19/08 Section: News
"It's cool to be part of the democratic process and to make voting more accessible to people," said First Year Philip Schnorback, one of the members of the Politics and Elections hall. He explained how, while at the booth, he saw students of all ages and class levels, with no concentration in any level.
And the effort doesn't seem to have gone unrewarded. "We've already been able to register I think over 300 people in just like three or four days," Tutor said.
On top of this, THOLP and the College Democrats are holding a Voter Awareness Barbeque this Friday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. on the yard in front of Murchison, the dorm hall which houses THOLP, according to Crockett. Its Facebook event group describes it as "a cook out like no other," and advertises free food and music combined with yet another opportunity for students to register to vote, all in an attempt to fight historically low young voter turnout.
"Some social scientists think that barriers to registration are what keep turnout low," explained Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. David Crockett, who is teaching the course on Elections and Campaigns this semester. While not many barriers from the past remain today, he said, there are still some barriers for college students relating to their inexperience with the system and its rules. Simply knowing how and when to register, especially while away from home without their parents to guide them, can be difficult.
"Probably, [for] most people on this campus, this is their first federal election, and so you haven't developed a habit of voting. You haven't thought about this as an important part of your life," Dr. Crockett said. "So people have to think this is relevant, this has an effect on my life, it has an effect on my country, and therefore it's important to vote, and then actually do it on Nov. 4, or take the time to remember to vote absentee beforehand."
Speaking of initiatives like the current registration drive on campus, Dr. Crockett said that "it could conceivably help increase the marginal levels of voting of young voters. Whether that actually? goes the distance remains to be seen, because people have for decades talked about how this is a block of voters that you want to get on your side, and for the most part, they don't really rise to the occasion. Eighteen to 25 is the age block that comes out the least to vote in terms of numbers."
And the effort doesn't seem to have gone unrewarded. "We've already been able to register I think over 300 people in just like three or four days," Tutor said.
On top of this, THOLP and the College Democrats are holding a Voter Awareness Barbeque this Friday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. on the yard in front of Murchison, the dorm hall which houses THOLP, according to Crockett. Its Facebook event group describes it as "a cook out like no other," and advertises free food and music combined with yet another opportunity for students to register to vote, all in an attempt to fight historically low young voter turnout.
"Some social scientists think that barriers to registration are what keep turnout low," explained Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. David Crockett, who is teaching the course on Elections and Campaigns this semester. While not many barriers from the past remain today, he said, there are still some barriers for college students relating to their inexperience with the system and its rules. Simply knowing how and when to register, especially while away from home without their parents to guide them, can be difficult.
"Probably, [for] most people on this campus, this is their first federal election, and so you haven't developed a habit of voting. You haven't thought about this as an important part of your life," Dr. Crockett said. "So people have to think this is relevant, this has an effect on my life, it has an effect on my country, and therefore it's important to vote, and then actually do it on Nov. 4, or take the time to remember to vote absentee beforehand."
Speaking of initiatives like the current registration drive on campus, Dr. Crockett said that "it could conceivably help increase the marginal levels of voting of young voters. Whether that actually? goes the distance remains to be seen, because people have for decades talked about how this is a block of voters that you want to get on your side, and for the most part, they don't really rise to the occasion. Eighteen to 25 is the age block that comes out the least to vote in terms of numbers."
Be the first to comment on this story