As the presidential election draws closer, two local registration and absentee ballot drives already have done their part to encourage student voting.
The Center for Politics and a coalition of student groups have passed the two-thirds mark in their goal of registering and distributing absentee ballots to 2,004 students. Brothers United Celebrating Knowledge and Success and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. also recently concluded their own registration and absentee ballot drive.
Both groups say, however, their goals go beyond simply registering students to vote in the upcoming election.
According to Molly Clancy, a research and program associate at the Center for Politics, the absentee ballot drive has already been met with an enthusiastic response.
"The University community is certainly interested in the election this year," Clancy said.
Student Council, the University Democrats and Wahoo Information Services for the Electorate have all assisted the Center, according to Alex Stolar, Student Council legislative affairs chair.
To register students and distribute absentee ballots, the Center and student volunteers have visited large events such as the Student Activities Fair and Homecomings weekend events and encouraged students to register or fill out an absentee ballot request form. The drive also has reached students through smaller events, tabling on the Lawn and at Newcomb, and other events in the Center's national symposium on youth civic engagement, according to Clancy and Stolar.
Stolar said the 2004 effort is similar to 2002, when the presence of an education bond referendum on the ballot engaged student interest.
"I think this election is similar -- [students] realize this has a direct impact on their lives," Stolar said.
The BUCKS/Alpha Phi Alpha registration effort, which included tabling at Harris Teeter, focused not just on University students but on the entire Charlottesville community, BUCKS education co-chair Claire McLamore said.
"It was really about the whole community," McLamore said.
In addition to increasing turnout, McLamore said the drive focused on educating students and community members, not only about the election but also about the voting process.
"A lot of people weren't aware they needed absentee ballots," McLamore said. "That's what we ended up handing out the most."
Clancy also noted some confusion regarding absentee ballots, but praised Virginia's system compared with other states.
"Virginia's got a great system, actually," Clancy said. "It's very straightforward."
According to Clancy, the Center is working with student groups to institutionalize the registration drives at the University so they occur yearly and return to events such as the first-year block party.
"It doesn't always have to revolve around a presidential election," Clancy said. "We really want to educate and mobilize students to participate in their local politics."
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