Come Out and Vote

By Beth Leamy

With the Nov. 4 approaching rapidly, deadlines for voter registration are almost upon us.

This coming Monday, Oct. 6, is the deadline for prospective voters wishing to register to vote. With this in mind, various activities throughout campus will be going on over the next month in order to ensure that students are educated and motivated to go to the polls.

The Eisenhower Institute, College Democrats, and College Republicans have already made a large push to remind students to vote. Last week, the College Republicans and College Democrats participated in a debate covering three important issues that were identified as pertinent to this election.

The three topics debated were drilling in ANWR , privatization of Social Security, and the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Over 90 students came out to listen to the debate.

Also, the Eisenhower Institute has collaborated with the College Democrats and College Republicans to cosponsor debate viewing parties for the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates. It is bipartisan efforts like this that allow students to see how political parties can work together toward a common goal – such as getting people to the polls on Nov. 4.

For me, as the President of the College Republicans, I would encourage all students, regardless of their political affiliation or views, to make it out to the polls. I am a firm believer that voting is part of our civic duty and the best way for our voices to be heard in Washington DC. As we have seen recently with congressional leaders voting against the economic bailout plan, voters have a huge effect on policy, especially during election years.

It is sad to hear that the youth has one of the lowest rates of voter participation. Of any demographic, we are the ones filled with new ideas about how to change our country and bridge our differences in order to work toward a common good.

I believe that the young vote is one of the most important voting blocks in America, especially because this country and this government is ours to inherit, sooner rather than later. I have had the privilege of working for young (26 years old) Republican Congressional candidate Nick Miccarelli and seeing the ideas he has for the State of Pennsylvania. I can only hope that through getting involved in this election, the voting youth from both parties will step up in the future and become the candidates we will look to for leadership.

The College’s initiative to get students out to vote will include a gazebo set up near Glatfelter Lodge, a series of talks about important campaign topics and many more activities that will hopefully motivate students to vote on Nov. 4.

Reminders will be posted across campus about registering to vote, sending in absentee ballots, or just plain going to polling places. Student Senate is sponsoring shuttles on Election Day to official polling place in Gettysburg in order to ensure that students who wish to vote have the opportunity.

Efforts like these should and hopefully will encourage students to participate in the political process for this election.

Beth Leamy is President of the College Republicans and Vice President of the Class of 2010.