Students have no excuse for staying home on Election Day, thanks to AU Student Government.
Bringing TurboVote to campus has been SG’s most practical and successful event so far this semester.
TurboVote is a free online program for students that breaks down the complex voter registration system into a few easy steps. It allows students to request registration forms, apply for absentee ballots and update their voter registration status. It even reminds them about upcoming elections. Fill it out. Print it out. Send it in the mail. If only the issues in the upcoming election were that simple.
The Eagle applauds Emily Yu and her collaboration with SG and D.C. Students Speak on this initiative. Most of the work SG does is behind the scenes, and let’s face it, not too many students know what they do on a daily basis. However, this is something visible, something which has already made a difference in the community. Because of TurboVote, 352 AU students registered to vote as of Sept. 29, according to Joshua Matfess, SG deputy director of community relations and civic engagement.
SG has brought the issue of civic participation to the forefront of AU’s campus. Student groups such as AU College Democrats, AU College Republicans and D.C. Students Speak have organized events with similar goals, such as Vote-A-Palooza.
TurboVote and Vote-A-Palooza did an excellent job of getting students registered and applied for absentee ballots. They also reminded students to vote in the upcoming elections. It’s hard to ignore something when confronted by a student dressed as a robot on the quad.
Despite going to the most politically active university in the U.S., some AU students are still not registered to vote. SG recognizes that getting every AU student registered is essential if we want to stay the most politically active campus. It is one thing to stage a protest on the quad and chant for three hours; it’s another to take an active role in our civic responsibilities. Quite frankly, if AU students do not vote, they cannot complain or argue about anything done by the government.
Most AU students involve themselves with national politics. But if students are not registered to vote, we cannot consider ourselves members of a politically active university. Voting is the easiest, and perhaps most important, way to be an active participant in national decisions. With such a critical election coming up, it would be a disappointment if AU students weren’t at the polls.
By bringing TurboVote to campus, SG has created an easy opportunity for AU students to make a difference this November. Now, AU students just have to follow through and vote. ? E
edpage@theeagleonline.com
