The Importance of Voting |
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Proposal: Putting Polling Stations on College Campuses
By: Kiana Shaffer
“There are approximately 46 million Millennials who are eligible to vote, and a whopping 10.8 million of them voted in 2008” (Hofferth, 6)
This quote hangs above all our heads as a disappointment. It’s because of this quote that voting and the accessibility to voting polls has become a problem. Currently there are only 20 voting polls across the Salt Lake Valley and I don’t believe this even begins to help solve this problem. Our generation is just going into college and reaching that age where we can start to vote, so doesn’t it make sense to have voting polls on college campuses instead of elementary schools? It wasn’t until I became involved in Student Government at Salt Lake Community College that I started caring about voting.
My voice was starting to be heard and I wanted to hear others input on how to improve students’ experience on our college campus. As a senator I talk to a lot of students. One young man suggested when he was filling out his voter registration card, that there should be a voting poll at this college for all the busy students. It finally occurred to me if we were doing all this hard work getting students registered and then come voting day, they didn’t know where to go or what time to show up, what was the point? Looking back at the senate mission statement it gave me motivation to write this proposal. It says, “Our mission is to become the most effective Student Senate in the state by dedicating ourselves to our three-fold mission of: actively speaking out student issues and concern, effectively researching issues and thoughtfully considering all possible solutions to problems, and collaborating with faculty and administration to improve the college experience as a whole” (Student Senate 1). The purpose of this proposal is to specifically set up a voting poll at Salt Lake Community College campuses, and eventually state wide. If not, we need to at least provide voter registrations at every freshman orientation.
It’s no secret that college students are busy, and many of them have after school jobs just to keep afloat. So when it comes to voting students need something that can get them in and out the door. The only way to accomplish that would to physically put a voting poll on all college campus. One organization is trying to get the same word out; their called the Campus Vote Project. Their mission statement is simple “launched in 2012, is a campaign to help college students work with administrators and local election officials to make the process of voting easier and overcome barriers students often face to voting… that students often mention such as residency laws, registration deadlines, and strict voter ID requirements” (About the campaign 1). They help keep students informed on issues that have to do with the election, specifically voting regulations. For example, there are certain barriers that students are struggling with that their trying to overcome. One is making it easier for students to get registered to vote and to make it to a voting poll. Their detailed website features a news, blog, toolkit, what’s at stake, and a best practices tab, each section provides tips and stories that students’ everywhere can relate to. In the best practices section it discusses what some colleges and universities have had success with. For example the University of Indiana registered 11, 000 students by holding several weeks of election activities, one popular one was called the battle of the bands. However the University of Arizona provided voter registration forms to all 6000 incoming freshman in 2008 (Best practices, 3 & 8). This is a site dedicated to all states and with this kind of information available to all students; it’s a small step in the right direction to every election having a voting poll on college campuses.
“There are approximately 46 million Millennials who are eligible to vote, and a whopping 10.8 million of them voted in 2008” (Hofferth, 6)
This quote hangs above all our heads as a disappointment. It’s because of this quote that voting and the accessibility to voting polls has become a problem. Currently there are only 20 voting polls across the Salt Lake Valley and I don’t believe this even begins to help solve this problem. Our generation is just going into college and reaching that age where we can start to vote, so doesn’t it make sense to have voting polls on college campuses instead of elementary schools? It wasn’t until I became involved in Student Government at Salt Lake Community College that I started caring about voting.
My voice was starting to be heard and I wanted to hear others input on how to improve students’ experience on our college campus. As a senator I talk to a lot of students. One young man suggested when he was filling out his voter registration card, that there should be a voting poll at this college for all the busy students. It finally occurred to me if we were doing all this hard work getting students registered and then come voting day, they didn’t know where to go or what time to show up, what was the point? Looking back at the senate mission statement it gave me motivation to write this proposal. It says, “Our mission is to become the most effective Student Senate in the state by dedicating ourselves to our three-fold mission of: actively speaking out student issues and concern, effectively researching issues and thoughtfully considering all possible solutions to problems, and collaborating with faculty and administration to improve the college experience as a whole” (Student Senate 1). The purpose of this proposal is to specifically set up a voting poll at Salt Lake Community College campuses, and eventually state wide. If not, we need to at least provide voter registrations at every freshman orientation.
It’s no secret that college students are busy, and many of them have after school jobs just to keep afloat. So when it comes to voting students need something that can get them in and out the door. The only way to accomplish that would to physically put a voting poll on all college campus. One organization is trying to get the same word out; their called the Campus Vote Project. Their mission statement is simple “launched in 2012, is a campaign to help college students work with administrators and local election officials to make the process of voting easier and overcome barriers students often face to voting… that students often mention such as residency laws, registration deadlines, and strict voter ID requirements” (About the campaign 1). They help keep students informed on issues that have to do with the election, specifically voting regulations. For example, there are certain barriers that students are struggling with that their trying to overcome. One is making it easier for students to get registered to vote and to make it to a voting poll. Their detailed website features a news, blog, toolkit, what’s at stake, and a best practices tab, each section provides tips and stories that students’ everywhere can relate to. In the best practices section it discusses what some colleges and universities have had success with. For example the University of Indiana registered 11, 000 students by holding several weeks of election activities, one popular one was called the battle of the bands. However the University of Arizona provided voter registration forms to all 6000 incoming freshman in 2008 (Best practices, 3 & 8). This is a site dedicated to all states and with this kind of information available to all students; it’s a small step in the right direction to every election having a voting poll on college campuses.
Campus Vote Project Logo
http://www.google.com/images
Currently in Utah there are 20 voting polls in Salt Lake County. That number is supposed to serve everyone in the Salt Lake Valley, to me that is not enough. When I went to go look up my specific place on vote.utah.gov, I found out it’s at Rosecrest Elementary. I know I will be busy on November 6th, I will be at school from 8am to 2pm then I will have an hour to get to Park City where I work till 11pm at night. I will come to bet that a lot of college student’s schedules look a lot like mine. While I do like Utah.vote.gov website because you can look up where your polling station is, register to vote, and even see what is on the ballot. I just don’t know if it’s enough material for students. These websites and resources are great but we have to appeal to students’ everyday life. The students’ need something physically at their campus, that way they can wait to vote in between classes, right after class is over, or while there eating. These websites are not even being utilized to their full potential, how is someone supposed to know where to go if they don’t even have access to internet? Or know where to look? So it’s time to ask yourself are you in a position to take charge and help out your college? Here is a list of Salt Lake County’s voting 2012 schedule and below is also a map of my voting poll:
General Election In-Office Voting Schedule
All eligible residents may vote early in the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office.
Dates: Weekdays, October 8 - November 2
Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Salt Lake County Clerks' Office, Election Division
2001 South State Street
South Building
Saturday Only - October 27
Hours: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Salt Lake County Clerks' Office
Early voting ends at 5:00pm on November 2 at all locations
General Election Early Voting Schedule
All eligible residents may vote early at any one of the locations listed below.
Dates: Weekdays, October 23 - November 2
Hours 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Boys and Girls Club Midvale - 7631 S Chapel St (425 W)
Christ United Methodist Church - 2375 E 3300 S
Cottonwood City Hall - 1265 E Fort Union Blvd (6900 S)
Eddie P. Mayne Kearns Senior Center - 4850 W 4715 S
JL Sorenson Recreation Center - 5350 W Main ST (12720 S)
Magna Senior Center - 9228 W Main St (2700 S)
Midvalley Bible Church - 13985 S 2700 W
Mountain America Tanner Building - 7167 S Center Park Dr (3935 W)
Sandy Senior Center - 9310 S 1300 E
South Jordan Senior Center - 10778 S Redwood Rd (1700 W)
Rivers Bend NW Senior Ctr - 1300 W 300 N
Voting schedule for Salt Lake County Election 2012
http://www.google.com/images
Currently in Utah there are 20 voting polls in Salt Lake County. That number is supposed to serve everyone in the Salt Lake Valley, to me that is not enough. When I went to go look up my specific place on vote.utah.gov, I found out it’s at Rosecrest Elementary. I know I will be busy on November 6th, I will be at school from 8am to 2pm then I will have an hour to get to Park City where I work till 11pm at night. I will come to bet that a lot of college student’s schedules look a lot like mine. While I do like Utah.vote.gov website because you can look up where your polling station is, register to vote, and even see what is on the ballot. I just don’t know if it’s enough material for students. These websites and resources are great but we have to appeal to students’ everyday life. The students’ need something physically at their campus, that way they can wait to vote in between classes, right after class is over, or while there eating. These websites are not even being utilized to their full potential, how is someone supposed to know where to go if they don’t even have access to internet? Or know where to look? So it’s time to ask yourself are you in a position to take charge and help out your college? Here is a list of Salt Lake County’s voting 2012 schedule and below is also a map of my voting poll:
General Election In-Office Voting Schedule
All eligible residents may vote early in the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office.
Dates: Weekdays, October 8 - November 2
Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Salt Lake County Clerks' Office, Election Division
2001 South State Street
South Building
Saturday Only - October 27
Hours: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Salt Lake County Clerks' Office
Early voting ends at 5:00pm on November 2 at all locations
General Election Early Voting Schedule
All eligible residents may vote early at any one of the locations listed below.
Dates: Weekdays, October 23 - November 2
Hours 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Boys and Girls Club Midvale - 7631 S Chapel St (425 W)
Christ United Methodist Church - 2375 E 3300 S
Cottonwood City Hall - 1265 E Fort Union Blvd (6900 S)
Eddie P. Mayne Kearns Senior Center - 4850 W 4715 S
JL Sorenson Recreation Center - 5350 W Main ST (12720 S)
Magna Senior Center - 9228 W Main St (2700 S)
Midvalley Bible Church - 13985 S 2700 W
Mountain America Tanner Building - 7167 S Center Park Dr (3935 W)
Sandy Senior Center - 9310 S 1300 E
South Jordan Senior Center - 10778 S Redwood Rd (1700 W)
Rivers Bend NW Senior Ctr - 1300 W 300 N
Voting schedule for Salt Lake County Election 2012
Rosecrest Elementary
2420 E Fisher Ln (2935 S)
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
In the toolkit section of the Campus Vote Project they have outlined a six step how to develop a polling station at your campus:
First step: Is to do some research find out if your state has early voting, then contact your local election office and figure out the specific requirements for setting up a polling station.
Second step: Come up with a list of locations on your campus that fit the requirements before you present it to officials on your campus.
Third Step: You must take your research and outline a plan that lists specifics of location and deadlines to when all of this will be set in stone and then submit it to your elected officials.
Fourth Step: Then you must set up meetings with your campus officials like school deans and student life and leadership administrators and prepare a presentation to share with them. Tell them where exactly you want the location to be and think creatively about ways to fund it or ask for donations from partners of the school.
Steps 5 & 6: Include following up with your school and elected officials and thanking them for their time and how much this means to you. After you complete all the steps you’re ready to submit it and make sure you maintain those relationships as the plan occurs.
I think these steps outline a perfect plan in creating polling stations at college campuses. How it relates to Salt Lake Community College campus and more specifically the Taylorsville Campus, these are my ideas: I would first make sure that Salt Lake Community College needs a polling station, and from the research I gathered it’s definitely needed. Then I would make sure to establish relationships with elected officials, I would do this by getting involved in community’s and the campaign race within the Salt Lake Valley. As far as locations first that comes to mind at the Taylorsville redwood campus is the gym, because it is big enough, there’s enough parking, its easy accessible, and also that it has enough space if lines formed. City buses already shuttle students’ to campus, since there are 9 campuses other students from different campuses could make it here easily and same goes for people in the community. Then I would outline a plan step by step to eliminate road blocks but highlight that a polling station is needed for students. After that I would go talk to Student Life and Leadership and I believe I could convince them to be on board, and with their help and the voter registration team we would have enough people to make this happen. If funding was needed this would be the biggest challenge, but since we have an amazing Taylorsville activities board they would be willing to come up with a few events that would raise some money. I would be willing to revise my plan and come up with new ideas but I think it’s worth it because I have talked to too many students who want to this become a reality.
I have talked about the benefits and limitations we would experience as a community college, but I haven’t really talked about cost. Further research hasn’t given me a lot of reasons that it would be hard to bring a polling station to Salt Lake Community College. The only source that I have come across that discusses cost is a website called procon.org. It says “a testimony by Ann McGeehan in 2005 states that each DRE costs between 2500 and 3000 dollars but is a major economic investment” (Procon.org 1). While this may seem like a lot of money, with a sufficient amount of planning and events I believe the students apart of Student Life and Leadership at SLCC could raise this much money for elections to come. It’s obvious in this situation that the benefits outweigh the cost because finally students will start voting and contributing to society. This not only benefits the students but people in our community and government officials.
Like the quote above said there are 46 million people registered to vote, and I believe every one of can make a difference in this election. This message needs to be passed onto all the college campuses because when one school gets their whole student population out to vote, it will create a chain reaction. While there are many issues on voting Mark Ritchie from the Campus Voting project says “If we can't break down the barriers to voting rights Voter ID legislation imposes on young people and other marginalized communities, the best thing we can do is get the word out continue to educate people on the issue” ( Campus voting project town hall 5). The need for change is now and online sites and resources are just a baby step towards changing how young voter’s vote. Students’ need something in their face telling them it’s time to vote, and the solution is bringing polling stations to college campuses. I outlined step by step how to do this, and even offered my own ideas on how to make this a reality. With further research we can confidently say that the benefits outweigh the cost. I urge you to register to vote and go vote this November 6th because it’s time for your voice to be heard. PASS IT ON!
Thank you for reading this article and taking the time to consider this idea.
Sincerely,
Kiana Shaffer
[email protected]
208-866-6175
Words: 2237
2420 E Fisher Ln (2935 S)
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
In the toolkit section of the Campus Vote Project they have outlined a six step how to develop a polling station at your campus:
First step: Is to do some research find out if your state has early voting, then contact your local election office and figure out the specific requirements for setting up a polling station.
Second step: Come up with a list of locations on your campus that fit the requirements before you present it to officials on your campus.
Third Step: You must take your research and outline a plan that lists specifics of location and deadlines to when all of this will be set in stone and then submit it to your elected officials.
Fourth Step: Then you must set up meetings with your campus officials like school deans and student life and leadership administrators and prepare a presentation to share with them. Tell them where exactly you want the location to be and think creatively about ways to fund it or ask for donations from partners of the school.
Steps 5 & 6: Include following up with your school and elected officials and thanking them for their time and how much this means to you. After you complete all the steps you’re ready to submit it and make sure you maintain those relationships as the plan occurs.
I think these steps outline a perfect plan in creating polling stations at college campuses. How it relates to Salt Lake Community College campus and more specifically the Taylorsville Campus, these are my ideas: I would first make sure that Salt Lake Community College needs a polling station, and from the research I gathered it’s definitely needed. Then I would make sure to establish relationships with elected officials, I would do this by getting involved in community’s and the campaign race within the Salt Lake Valley. As far as locations first that comes to mind at the Taylorsville redwood campus is the gym, because it is big enough, there’s enough parking, its easy accessible, and also that it has enough space if lines formed. City buses already shuttle students’ to campus, since there are 9 campuses other students from different campuses could make it here easily and same goes for people in the community. Then I would outline a plan step by step to eliminate road blocks but highlight that a polling station is needed for students. After that I would go talk to Student Life and Leadership and I believe I could convince them to be on board, and with their help and the voter registration team we would have enough people to make this happen. If funding was needed this would be the biggest challenge, but since we have an amazing Taylorsville activities board they would be willing to come up with a few events that would raise some money. I would be willing to revise my plan and come up with new ideas but I think it’s worth it because I have talked to too many students who want to this become a reality.
I have talked about the benefits and limitations we would experience as a community college, but I haven’t really talked about cost. Further research hasn’t given me a lot of reasons that it would be hard to bring a polling station to Salt Lake Community College. The only source that I have come across that discusses cost is a website called procon.org. It says “a testimony by Ann McGeehan in 2005 states that each DRE costs between 2500 and 3000 dollars but is a major economic investment” (Procon.org 1). While this may seem like a lot of money, with a sufficient amount of planning and events I believe the students apart of Student Life and Leadership at SLCC could raise this much money for elections to come. It’s obvious in this situation that the benefits outweigh the cost because finally students will start voting and contributing to society. This not only benefits the students but people in our community and government officials.
Like the quote above said there are 46 million people registered to vote, and I believe every one of can make a difference in this election. This message needs to be passed onto all the college campuses because when one school gets their whole student population out to vote, it will create a chain reaction. While there are many issues on voting Mark Ritchie from the Campus Voting project says “If we can't break down the barriers to voting rights Voter ID legislation imposes on young people and other marginalized communities, the best thing we can do is get the word out continue to educate people on the issue” ( Campus voting project town hall 5). The need for change is now and online sites and resources are just a baby step towards changing how young voter’s vote. Students’ need something in their face telling them it’s time to vote, and the solution is bringing polling stations to college campuses. I outlined step by step how to do this, and even offered my own ideas on how to make this a reality. With further research we can confidently say that the benefits outweigh the cost. I urge you to register to vote and go vote this November 6th because it’s time for your voice to be heard. PASS IT ON!
Thank you for reading this article and taking the time to consider this idea.
Sincerely,
Kiana Shaffer
[email protected]
208-866-6175
Words: 2237