In preparation for the upcoming midterm elections, ETSU Votes hosted a Prep Your Ballot party to ensure students upon campus were registered and fully equipped for voting opportunities.
On April 13, members of the committee allowed students to check their registration, register to vote, apply for absentee ballots and even receive important information on candidates in the November midterms.
Featuring free food, drinks, and a photo booth, ETSU Votes is pushing the initiative to cast your ballot while bringing fun, comfort and open conversations to Main Street of the D.P. Culp Student Center. Though this was the first time ETSU Votes has hosted this event, members are incredibly hopeful to continue the tradition for future elections.
Many students may be voting for the first time, whether in the midterm or primary election, and ETSU Votes provided each individual who stopped by with a special voting preparation ticket that could be taken to each booth to accommodate their voting needs, such as their voting method, checking their voter registration status, dates for registration deadlines, absentee ballot deadlines and election day polling locations.
For ETSU Votes, helping students register for their voting needs are far more important than what meets the eye.
“It can be easy to forget sometimes just how much elections can affect our daily lives,” said ETSU Votes Graduate Assistant Zach Smith. “When we cast our vote, we aren’t just putting someone in a position of power, we are deciding who we want to represent our own beliefs and ideals.”
ETSU is featured as an early voting location that will be available on campus from April 18-22. With the implementation of the early voting location on campus, members of ETSU Votes are hoping to remove the barrier that exists between transportation, election deadlines and any level of hesitation that may exist among young voters.
Though there are many individuals who may not be able to vote in the upcoming Washington County election, as the election is only open to county residents, ETSU Votes is worked to accommodate voting for all surrounding counties, from mail-in ballots to early voting locations.
“In the long term, we hope to increase civic engagement at ETSU,” said Smith, “We are always looking for opportunities to engage students in the voting process, and we believe the Prep Your Ballot Party presents an important opportunity for students wanting to vote in the upcoming elections.”
The Prep Your Ballot party also placed heavy emphasis on the overall importance of casting your vote. Voicing your concerns allows for a more tangible and understanding impact on the community, especially here at ETSU, and members of the organization such as Smith are beyond excited at the engagement of students in relation to letting their voices be heard.
