Six members of ASUO, 60 interns and 100 volunteers are coming together this week, aiming to register 7,500 students to vote during the first two weeks of school. If successful, they will have registered the largest number of students in the University’s history.
The ASUO will kick off its annual voter registration drive Thursday. But this year’s event will include fewer big events and will rely on more day-to-day efforts to register students.
“It’s more about groundwork than
big events,” Student Vote Coalition
co-coordinator Christina Swartz said.
Oregon Student Association Campus Organizer Courtney Hight said approaching students doing day-to-day activities yields more registrations than putting on big events.
Amy DuFour, ASUO state affairs coordinator and registration drive volunteer, said she is confident the ASUO will exceed its 7,500-student goal.
During last year, a non-legislative year, the ASUO registered 3,000 people to vote. Its largest previous goal was 5,000 students in 2000.
The ASUO will take to the streets, visit classrooms and set up tables at Bean,
Carson and Hamilton complexes when students move in.
DuFour said during move-in day, when residence hall occupants pick up their keys, they can also pick up a voter-registration form.
She said there are 3,000 students moving in, adding that registering to vote is a good way to begin college life.
Political groups on campus will also be trying to get students registered to vote, DuFour said.
“We want to make sure we get to them first,” DuFour said. “It should be nonpartisan, and it should be fair.”
DuFour said those working on the voter registration drive will do class wraps — where volunteers visit classrooms with voter registration forms and talk to students about voting. She said they will also visit groups around campus, including greek houses. Voter registration forms will also be available in departments around campus.
ASUO has also planned events to encourage voter registration.
On Sept. 30, there will be a huge rally on campus in the EMU ampitheatre that includes University President Dave Frohnmayer and Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury. There will also be a concert later that night at the McDonald Theatre. ASUO also has events planned for Oct. 12, the last day to register, and Nov. 2, election day.
DuFour said that the college-age demographic suffers low voter turnout in part because students don’t feel like their voices are heard.
“It’s about educating ourselves and making sure they know our vote counts,” she said. “We are
overlooked [by the legislature], because we don’t get out there and make our presence known.
“There are so many issues that affect us. We need to make sure that our voices are heard.”
Swartz agreed.
“Why not exercise all the rights we have?” she asked.
ASUO President Adam Petkun said that elected officials make decisions that affect our daily lives.
“We need to use the power we have in numbers to make a difference,” he said.
ASUO and volunteers will be registering students through the second week of school.
“Look for the green shirts,” DuFour said.

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