Civic Couch Party brings students together for voter registration 

The Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement teamed up with the ETSU Votes team to put on the Civic Couch Party event on Tuesday, Sept. 20, to promote voter registration for students on National Voter Registration Day. 

Students gathered at the University Commons on campus to enjoy music, snacks, games and chances to win free prizes from the event giveaway. But while they had fun, the event’s purpose was more importantly to raise awareness and offer more information on Tennessee’s online voter registration platform. 

“Through the GoVoteTN platform, students, faculty, and staff can register to vote or update their registration online. It’s so easy that you can even do it from your couch,” said Nathaniel Farnor, coordinator for leadership and civic engagement at ETSU. 

Students enjoyed games of cornhole and connect four while also participating in a social media giveaway for a brand-new sherpa lounge chair created by the UGG brand. 

The Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement hopes that this event will allow students to become more active in the community and on campus. 

“Every year students have made it clear that they are passionate about making a positive impact in the region and country. In addition to their academic work, voter and civic engagement initiatives offer an outlet for students to have this positive impact through the lenses of public policy and advocacy, in addition to more direct hands-on service,” Farnor said. 

Through participation in the event and a presence on campus, the organizations aim to spread more awareness on the importance of voting to students with the upcoming election happening in November. 

“Whether you are from East Tennessee, another region, or even another state, voting is the way that students can have an active role in shaping the communities they live in and want to live in. From our taxes, to our families and our future job prospects, public policy plays a role in every part of our lives. Just as students are thinking about their academic and professional futures, they should also be considering their personal ones, too,” said Farnor.