In
support of greater student participation in the forthcoming state and federal
elections this November, the SUNY Student Assembly- in partnership with the
State University of New York- has launched a multi-pronged “SUNY Votes”
Initiative.
The
initiative has three primary components- promoting voter registration, informing
students on where and how to vote, and sharing information on the races and
candidates for statewide and legislative office that will appear on the ballot.
To
promote voter registration, the Student Assembly has partnered with campus
student governments to host on-campus voter registration events, where students
can fill out the necessary paperwork to become registered voters.
Through
many conversations with students, the Student Assembly learned that a key
reason many students choose not to vote, even if they are registered, is a lack
of information on the races and candidates on the ballot- particularly in
midterm and off-year elections. Students need access to information on the responsibilities
of the various elected offices on the ballot, and the biographies and platforms
of the various candidates running for those offices, in order to make an
informed choice in the voting booth.
The
Student Assembly and SUNY have partnered with BallotReady, a non-partisan
start-up, to create an exclusive online platform where SUNY Students can go
through a sample ballot ahead of Election Day and learn about the races and
candidates up this year. Students will also be given information through this
SUNY Votes online platform, on where their polling location is, and how to
request an absentee ballot.
“We
have heard time and time again that young people do not turn out to vote- but I
know for a fact that is not because they care less about the issues facing our
state and nation,” said Michael Braun, President of the SUNY Student Assembly
and Trustee on the SUNY Board. “Students want to be responsible voters, to be
able to go to into the voting booth confident that they are making the right
choices based on their values. Through our SUNY Votes Initiative, we will help
students across our state make these hugely impactful decisions.”
The
SUNY Votes Initiative will continue through Election Day 2018.
Source: SUNY SA
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