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UMaine-UVote, an effort striving to educate students about the registration process, hopes to ramp up voting.
Students are able to register at all the hot spots on campus. The Memorial Union, dining commons, Recreation Center and blood drives will give students the chance to register.
With the presidential election close at hand, young voters seek involvement and many will vote for the first time. UMaine-UVote, a non-partisan committee of students and faculty, wants to help.
The group’s goal is to educate students about voting, the electoral process and registering for Nov. 4.
“Our main drive is voter registration,” said Associate Dean of Students Angel Loredo, who heads the committee.
UMaine Rocks the Vote, the group’s biggest event, will be held on Oct. 16 and host local bands and candidates, along with representation from many political parties. Candidates will mingle with the students, state and college political groups will provide information, and a range of musicians will share their talents. While urging students to vote, the event is not meant to preach.
UMaine Rocks the Vote has brought political icons such as former Senator Jonathan Edwards, the Bush twins and Pat LaMarche to campus. The group brought Hillary Clinton to the Recreation Center last spring and hopes to bring Senator Susan Collins this year.
“We want to bring the candidates to the students,” Loredo said.
The event has brought a huge turnout and is in its fourth year. Campus groups including fraternities, the College Republicans, the College Democrats, the Progressive Student Alliance and the General Student Senate are often present.
“We have a politically active community,” said Zachary Jackman, president of the UMaine College Republicans. “We want representation from both sides. We’re trying to get involvement out there.”
The following Thursday after UMaine Rocks the Vote, UMaine-UVote will bring the Orono Town Clerk on campus for a session of early voting.
Voter turnout always seems to be higher after the concert, noted Dean Loredo. “The last four years really picked up momentum.”
Students who previously registered with an address they no longer live at will need to register again, even if they just moved from one resident hall to another. Students living off-campus will need to vote in the town they currently live in. On-campus students can vote in the Memorial Union on election day.
Although same-day registration is available in Maine, it’s easier ahead of time. A piece of mail proving your address and your personal information is all that’s required.
“It’s important to vote because you need to get your voice out there,” third-year student Sharon Beaupre said. “The more accessible you make it, the more people will want to do it.”
If a student would like to vote as a democrat, a republican group can register them and vice versa. “We have to register anyone,” noted Jackman. “It’s healthy to have two sides of the story.”
UMaine-UVote will also host other events leading up to the Nov. 4 elections. The presidential and vice-presidential debates will be shown on campus in either DPC or Neville Hall in the coming month. The group does not aim to influence students’ opinions.
“In the end we’re both Americans,” Jackman said.
The Maine Campus’ attempts to contact the College Democrats were unsuccessful.
