Today’s the last day for Oregonians to register
to vote, and students should make sure
they are registered and take time to become
informed voters.
It’s important for us to remember the 2000 presidential election, when a few hundred votes made all the difference in the outcome. Students should take the initiative to make their voices heard at the local and state government levels.
Now more than ever, it is important for students to exercise their right to vote. The leaders we elect this year will be the ones who will have to resolve the education funding shortfall we are facing.
In the governor’s race, there are three Democratic candidates and three Republican candidates vying for the top state office — at this point, it’s anyone’s race. And it’s important that students have a hand in selecting the state’s next governor, since that person will likely be the one to help combat the state’s high unemployment and lead Oregon out of this recession.
At the local level, two candidates are campaigning for the Ward 3 seat, which encompasses the University. Recent changes to the district boundaries means this ward now encompasses even more of the neighborhoods surrounding the school. The decisions this councilor will be required to vote on will directly affect University students, so it’s important to find out how the candidates feel about the issues most students care about — such as public safety, a Eugene housing code and development.
There are also several measures and levies on the primary ballot that could have an impact on University students, including Measure 10, which would allow the University to own stock in research ventures they conduct, and Measure 20-56, which would allocate $116 million in tax dollars to the Eugene School District to provide better instructional facilities and replace aging buildings. Voters will also be asked to decide whether to pay for a new downtown fire station.
In order to determine which candidates, state ballot measures and citywide levies you want to support, it’s important to become an informed voter. Read about the candidates, state ballot measures and citywide levies — the Emerald is running a question-and-answer series with the candidates for Oregon governor and the city council ward that covers the University. And even better, see the Ward 3 City Council candidates in action at an ASUO-sponsored debate from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday in McKenzie Hall (event organizers have yet to pin down a room number).
But most importantly, once you’ve registered, remember to vote. Students make up a large portion of eligible voters and could have considerable voting power. But politicians often ignore our concerns and don’t campaign as vigorously for our votes because they know we are unlikely to vote. It’s especially difficult to fight voter apathy and drum up interest outside of a presidential election year.
Let’s prove them wrong and stop being a
silent majority.