By Kaylene Wright<\/p>\n
In preparation for Election Day on Nov. 4, students on campus have organized a, \u201cGet out the Vote\u201d (GOTV) effort in order to increase voter turnout among college students.<\/p>\n
So far, several things have been done with the effort. For example, for National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 23, tabling was done in Whitaker to register voters. There have been several phone banks on campus to call infrequent voters, cards students have signed saying they \u201cpledge to vote,\u201d and posters about voting put up around campus.<\/p>\n
The week before Election Day, a banner will be hung in Whitaker about voting, and there will be a \u201ctrick-or-vote\u201d canvass in the dorms to deliver voting reminder flyers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe effort has been pretty good,\u201d said Laura Shriver, an intern at Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and organizer of the GOTV effort on campus said. She said she started the work on campus after she heard about the low voting statistics among young people.<\/p>\n
In regard to the low statistics, Marites Velasquez, Program Director of Student PIRGs, said there is a misconception that young people don\u2019t vote because they are apathetic or lazy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe big reason is that they don\u2019t know how to register, how to get to the polls, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n
The GOTV campaign is aimed at trying to help students understand the voting process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of social problems that young people will inherit. We\u2019ll live with the aftermath of decisions made today for the rest of our lives,\u201d said Velasquez, in regards to the importance of young people voting.<\/p>\n
Sam Kebede said he\u2019s voting this year because it\u2019s his duty as a citizen, and an important part of the democratic process.<\/p>\n
\u201cCollege students are an often ignored demographic in the political scene. We have constructed opinions and ideas on how the world works, and those opinions should be heard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The campaign on campus will continue all the way up to Election Day. \u201cTo me it feels like one of the most important things. To have a bigger impact and help influence other people to vote,\u201d Shriver said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"