Help your peers register to vote!
People have enough trouble figuring out how to register to vote, where the polls are, and most importantly, what’s going to be on the ballot. And this process becomes even more difficult as a college student who’s busy with school, work, and extracurriculars. So if you understand the struggle people in your situation face when it comes to knowing what’s on the ballot and where to go vote, you should follow this guide to organizing your own voter registration drive!
How to get started!
Find a partner organization on campus
I’m sure your school has many student organizations that would be interested in supporting your initiative. I recommend starting with your Student Government or Council, as they are there to advocate for student’s concerns and best interests. They are also going to be the best nonpartisan group on campus.
Make a schedule
Consider your goals and how much work you want to and can put into this project. It’ll depend on when you start the project, but hopefully, you have ample time to prep. Then, you’ll want to determine how many days the drive should be and where on campus you’ll set up shop.
Book your resources
After you make your schedule, you’ll want to make sure you follow your campus protocol to book locations, tables, and chairs. This will be the last step before you can start outreach to local voter registrar volunteer.
Reach out to volunteers!
Contact your local registrar’s office to contact volunteers or nonpartisan organization that can help provide volunteers. For example, in Austin, the office of the Secretary of State runs the Elections Division. Other organizations like MOVE Texas, provide support for students as a nonpartisan advocate. You might also know a voter registrar on campus or through your network. Once you identify a contact, they can share your dates and times with them and they can help you organize the support for each one.
Build a marketing plan
You’ll need to have a plan on how to get the word out to the community on campus. Will there be flyers? Social media posts? There should be a variety of platforms, but ultimately you know your student community the best and what they will pay attention to.
Once you’ve set the groundwork, you should have a larger network of support and a better idea of what your campus will need. Just remember, every person you help makes an impact! The important thing is providing an easy and accessible way for students to participate in their local elections.
Happy voting!
-J.A.
Edited by C.A.