Institutionalize the Vote
The Higher Education Act of 1998 requires that U.S. colleges and universities make a “good faith effort” to register students to vote, but many schools have yet to meet that standard. In the absence of university leadership, partisan student groups often become the main voter registrants, which can alienate undecided and independent voters. In addition, partisan groups attempt to mobilize specific students to win an election instead of encouraging every student to exercise their civic responsibility.
SAVE chapters work with university administrators to organize non-partisan voter registration outlets during new student orientation, within course curricula, at school-wide events, and in high-traffic areas on campus. Our federal legislative initiative, the Student VOTER Act, builds off the ideology of this program and mandates that colleges and universities offer voter registration to students in conjunction with class registration.
College President’s Commitment
SAVE, in partnership with the Student PIRGS and United States Student Association, coauthored a pledge calling on college presidents to implement practical administrative measures to increase voter participation. The pledge is a tool for student leaders to use when advocating for an increased emphasis on civic education on their campuses. Whereas a report from Harvard's Shorenstein Center recently noted that the nonvoting young are more likely [than any other group] to cite registration mistakes or a lack of registration knowledge as a reason why they did not vote, our goal is to help institutions of higher education eradicate the barrier of ignorance. Two specific examples of what the commitment calls for include,
1. dissemination of letters to every student mailbox explaining how, why, where, and when
to vote
2. making new student orientation a fundamental outlet for registering all incoming students
and providing them with absentee resources if they prefer to vote in their home district
Visit the College President's Commitment home page at www.presidentscommitment.org.
Town Hall Meetings, Issue Forums, Political Debates
Voter education requires a true devotion to learning the issues. SAVE chapters hold forums that educate voters on the positions that candidates and community leaders take on national and state policies. Fundamentally, these events are designed to expose students to the critical information necessary to achieve well-informed, thoughtful positions on a variety of issues. SAVE has already brought current members of congress, former members of congress, and local elected officials to our chapters to connect with students. Politicians need to learn what topics are important to their young constituents, and young constituents need to know that politicians are accessible and listening.
Training More Poll Workers
The average age of a poll worker in our country is well over 60. In many locations, it is over 70. Involving young people in the administration of our elections is important because it builds confidence in and increases understanding of the process. In addition, as technology plays a more prominent role in our elections through electronic registration lists, ballots, and machines, we should tap into the technological savvy of young Americans.
SAVE chapters lead youth poll worker programs, where young people can take charge of elections as administrators and volunteers on Election Day. We collaborate with board of elections offices at the local level to encourage youth participation and ensure students are properly trained.