The voter registration frive should be taken advantage of by student body

By Gus Bode

As the November elections near, the race has begun to see who are the best candidates. There are commercials, posters, pamphlets and speeches, but in the long run it all comes down to the vote.

That is where we come in. On Monday, Undergraduate Student Government President Kristie Ayres announced that USG had unofficially met their goal for registering student voters. The number that USG members shot for was 400, but it appears that they have a chance to surpass that number significantly. USG members should be congratulated for their concern about the student vote. Now it is important for the student body to be as equally concerned and to recognize the importance of that student vote.

During the first week of school, USG members diligently attacked SIUC’s campus to register voters. Their main target incoming freshmen. Some members even risked being arrested so they could gain a few more voters. Persistence like that is rarely seen and seldom practiced.

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The best part about USG’s voter drive is that it is not an attempt to endorse a party or candidate, but simply to become registered to vote. What better place to practice political activism than on a college campus? Voters between the ages of 18 and 24 are one of the largest demographics in the country. But too often, many students approach national and local politics in the same way that they approach campus politics they don’t give a damn. That is a sad reality and a reality that needs to be changed. USG members are doing all they can, but they can only do so much. Students must also be concerned enough to get themselves registered to vote.

Students should want to vote. If you don’t vote then you have no right to complain. There are political races that will be taking place this November that could have profound effects on our area. They could affect what funds this school receives or what jobs could be available. Although it may seem like a small contribution, every vote counts.

USG members have set a goal to register about 2,000 voters to vote in the November elections. They cannot do it alone. Campus organizations should take their lead and voice the importance of voting. But most importantly, the students should take the lead and register themselves. If you don’t care, don’t expect anyone else to either.

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