University of Northern Iowa students have no excuse for not being registered to vote in the Nov. 7 elections. Several groups on campus are diligently promoting student registration and voting. One issue being addressed is students who need to change their registration from their hometowns to Black Hawk county.
“You can only register to vote at one address,” said Kyle Jennson, Black Hawk county elections manager. “If a student decides they want to vote in Black Hawk county, it is their obligation to make sure they are only registered once. We are a university county, so we’ve had more exposure to this concept.”
The major student-targeted effort the county authorities are making involves satellite voting stations where students can register and vote early.
The stations will be in place Oct. 18 and 19 in Maucker Union from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We set it up to complement student schedules,” Jennson said. “We planned them on our own but have had some contact with student groups.”
Both the College Republicans and the Northern Iowa Democrats have been encouraging student registration and absentee voting.
“We are trying to get people registered and signed up to vote absentee, but we’re working more with informing people about the candidates,” said Gina Nichols, president of the Northern Iowa Democrats. “We’re advertising the satellite voting stations and encouraging people to vote democratic.”
Louis Marienelli, public relations chair of the College Republicans, stated that their group is working with the Republican National Committee and organizing similar efforts.
“We’ll be at a table in the Union on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting next week,” he said. “We’ll have forms for registration and for absentee ballots. This district is really important. We hope we can have a good turnout.”
Student government (NISG) is working with the New Voters Project to increase the number of registered students.
“The New Voters Project is part of the largest youth voter mobilization effort in history,” said Andy Ridgeway, campus organizer for the New Voter’s project. “Our goal is to register as many young people as possible, so that politicians will be forced to address the issues that young voters care about.”
With Ridgeway’s assistance, student government has been registering students at a table in Maucker Union from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“Right now the best way for students to get registered is to come to see the New Voters Project in the Union,” said Andrew Morse, director of public relations for NISG. “You can get it done easily there. Satellite voting will be important too. We really want to promote making voting easy for students.”
NISG is also using other methods to promote student voting.
“We’re doing other simple promotional items like table tents and we’re also presenting in classes,” Morse said. “We’re hosting a debate for all the local candidates on Oct. 11. We want to present the positive aspects of voting and the effects it has for students.”
Information on registration and voting can be found through the Black Hawk county auditor at http://www.co.black-hawk.ia.us/index.html.
