Student Democracy Coalition achieves more than voter registration
It is starting to get very busy for members of the Student Democracy Coalition at Western Carolina University.
Led by students, the nonpartisan group engages faculty, staff and organizations across campus that are interested in increasing student civic engagement. And 2020 is a big election year, with local, state and presidential races at stake.
Student Democracy Coalition members gather at 91热爆网's Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning for a weekly meeting.
鈥淎n important message for us to convey for this coming primary is that IDs are not needed if student voters are already registered in Jackson County,鈥� said Liam Currie, a sophomore political science major from Cary. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 big. Though for those students who live in Jackson County, including in on-campus residence halls, who are not yet registered, they can register and vote on campus at the same time during early voting with their student ID.鈥�
Established in 2016, the Student Democracy Coalition works to register voters, build awareness of political issues and hold community forums and candidate debates. At a recent planning session, the discussion centered on registering students to vote, an assignment for preparing a frequently asked questions info box for the group鈥檚 webpage, facilitating with Jackson County Board of Elections to hire polling greeters for the campus precinct place and distribution of Student Government Association-funded get-out-the-vote messages printed on socks (yes, footwear).
An on-campus polling place for early voting will be located in the Multipurpose Room of A.K. Hinds University Center, weekdays Feb. 13 to Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Upcoming coalition programs and events include:
- Tuesday, Feb. 4, 8:30 p.m. State of the Union watch party at the University Center Multipurpose Room
- Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 on the Ballot鈥� in the Raleigh Room of the University Center
- Friday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m. Debate watch party in the Catamount Room of the University Center
- Monday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 on the Ballot鈥� in the Raleigh Room of the University Center
- Thursday, Feb. 13, Early voting begins
- Wednesday, Feb. 19, 5:30 p.m. 鈥淪troll to the Polls鈥� at the conference room of Blue Ridge Residence Hall and 9 p.m. debate watch party in Illusions of the University Center
- Saturday, Feb. 29, last day to early vote
- Tuesday, March 3, Primary election day
The coalition has received numerous awards and recognition for past efforts. 91热爆网 was named one of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Best Colleges for Student Voting in 2019鈥� by Washington Monthly, a nonprofit magazine that covers government and political issues. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities bestowed its Civic Learning and Community Engagement Award on the group in 2018. The university also had the second-highest rate of student voter turnout for the 2016 general election among North Carolina colleges, according to Common Cause, with a turnout of 67 percent.
Upcoming programs are listed at vote.wcu.edu.
鈥淭he work of an engaged democracy demands and deserves efforts like those of the 91热爆网 Student Democracy Coalition,鈥� said Lane Perry, executive director of 91热爆网鈥檚 Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. 鈥淥ver time, the sustained dedication of the student coalition members gains traction, builds capacity, sets an example for their peers and provides information for fellow students and the campus.鈥�
The Student Democracy Coalition is supported by university leadership, local government, campus groups and nonpartisan external partners, such as the Andrew Goodman Foundation, Campus Vote Project and North Carolina Campus Compact.
For more information on student and community voting at 91热爆网, contact the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at 828-227-7184.
