In an effort to become more involved in the voting process, students have increased St. Lawrence’s average for voter registration and turnout tremendously from 2014 to 2018.
Voter turnout for SLU students was at 7.9 percent in 2014, and that figure jumped to 30.7 percent in 2018, according to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement conducted in 2018.
The NSLVE is conducted by Tufts University and collects data about voter registration and voting rates for around 1,000 participating universities each election year.
SLU’s report demonstrates what colleges across the nation are experiencing.
In 2014, the amount of college students nationwide who actually went to the polls was at 19.7 percent, and in 2018, it went to 39.1 percent, according to the study.
This increase in voter turnout could be attributed to young people feeling motivated to support causes they are passionate about, and making an effort to vote for these causes.
SLU students still have some work to do to increase the voter turnout to the nationwide average.
However, Lisa Torrey, associate professor of Computer Science and co-advisor for the Andrew Goodman Foundation, states that the foundation likes to think “not that we are far behind, but that voting is something we do here.”
The increase in voter registration at SLU could be attributed to the Andrew Goodman Foundation, which was established in 2015.
The foundation was created to honor the legacy of Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and James Chaney who were killed by the Ku Klux Klan when they were trying to register black voters in Mississippi in 1964.
The AGF is committed to voting rights specifically on college campuses by increasing youth voting.
On the pamphlet that the foundation distributes, it is stated that the “Vote Everywhere” campaign’s four objectives are to advocate for voter rights, register citizens, educate students and getting out the vote.
On our campus, AGF hosts voter registration events and attends classes in the FYP in order to educate first years about the voting process.
The club is also focused on increasing awareness about voting and how quick the registration process to vote is, in order to increase voter registration on campus.
This Friday, October 4, there will be a voter registration event in the student center from 11 to 4 p.m..
At the event there will be cake, a raffle and forms among other free things to encourage people to register to vote.
AGF will be providing absentee ballots, other voter registration forms, information about registering to vote including information about registering in political parties and answers to any questions people have about the process.
All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend regardless of voter registration status.
Events like these are important to campus since they provide helpful and necessary information about the voting process, which is something most students can participate in.
Ella Charlesworth ’21, a member of the AGF, in response to why voting is so important stated that “Throughout history, many groups of people have lacked access to voting. I think it is important for us to use our voices and exercise our right to vote. I am passionate about AGF’s mission and enjoy working with others to increase voter registration and turn-out at SLU.”
If you would like to become involved with the club you can find their organization page on Presence and follow their page on Instagram @sluvotes.
Be sure to attend the voter registration event on Friday to get free cake.
You can also geta chance to win a 50 dollar gift card to the Brewer Bookstore just by checking your voter registration status!