With the deadline for voter registration steadily approaching for the Presidential Preference Primary Election, clubs and organizations on campus have begun increasing their efforts to register as many students as possible before next Monday’s deadline.
“[The 33rd Student Senate has] had several voter registration drives, in which we have focused on registering freshmen to vote,” said Sen. Brittani King, 20, a political science student from Orlando.
“I applaud the efforts of groups on campus who are not only focusing on registering students, but educating them politically as well.”
Students who wish to either register to vote in the upcoming election or change their political party affiliation must have it postmarked or hand delivered to Leon County supervisor of elections Ion V. Sancho before the deadline.
This year’s primary election falls on March 9, which is during spring break. Special efforts are being made in order get students out to vote the week before they leave for the break.
“We have to … get a big voter mobilization effort out to make sure students get to the polls a week before,” said SGA President Larry O. Rivers. “Here in Leon County you can vote up to a week before elections.”
“We are going to push students to get out to the polls. If we don’t we are going to be big losers when it comes to making sure students are heard in the primary,” Rivers said.
In addition to registering voters, organization and clubs have begun to educate students on candidates and their views. The Beta Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. dedicated last week, “Answering a Kall to Action,” to bring political awareness to the campus. During the event, students were able to get involved in politics on a state and national level.
Also, participants were able to tour the capitol and meet representatives.
“I came up with answering a kall to action after I was motivated by Andrew Gillum’s convocation speech, when he charged each student to have a call to action … to act on things going on around us whether it is financial aid, bills, legislation or reduce funding at FAMU,” said Shandra Herrod, 22, a business administration student from Columbus, Ohio. “We have to follow through with making sure [students] know what they are voting for. If they are only registered to vote, it is just like any one having their name written down in a book, there is no action.”