Make the most of National Voter Registration Day
Think you’re too busy to register to vote this fall?
Think again.
Today it’s as easy as grabbing lunch in the Tinkham Veale University Center— easier, actually, since it’s free.
Between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m, the Center for Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL) will be on the Tink’s first floor, ready to help people register to vote, request absentee ballots, update registrations and check polling locations. CCEL staff and CWRUVotes student leaders also will be ready to answer questions—and they’re even offering free snacks.
The occasion is National Voter Registration Day, which is three weeks before Ohio’s deadline to be able to vote in the Nov. 8 general election.
Students who want to learn more about the process—in this state or any other—can visit the ALL IN to Vote website, which includes information about registration, requesting a ballot and even becoming a poll worker. It’s all part of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a nationwide, nonpartisan effort to increase student voter registration and turnout. The group hopes to achieve 100% voter registration and turnout among their campus communities in the 2022 midterm elections.
“I commend CCEL staff and all of the student volunteers helping to educate and engage our campus community,” said President Eric W. Kaler, one of 15 college and university leaders serving on the ALL IN President’s Council. “In recent years the proportion of college students voting nationwide has continued to grow— I am confident that Case Western Reserve will help continue that trend this fall.”
Campus resources
For those who can’t make it to the Tink today, they can visit CCEL (Tinkham Veale University Center, Room 165) for help with forms leading up to election day. Faculty and staff resource packets are also available for those who would like to share voter registration forms and information with their departments.
Additionally, CCEL has partnered with TurboVote, which is a one-stop-shop for members of the community to register, update their address, get reminders and more. No matter what state you vote in, TurboVote can help.
Looking for more voting support? Visit the CCEL website for resources, including the office’s FAQ page that addresses common student questions.
Students weigh in
We asked CWRU students why they vote. Here’s what they said.
“I vote, help other people get registered to vote, and advocate for accessible voting to stand up for the many people that are unable to participate in the democratic process. I am fortunate that I am able to use my voice to elect candidates and vote for issues that may better the lives of myself, my peers, my family, and my community. Through voting, I hope to extend this right to those that are unable to do so, like the many students at CWRU who are unable to vote in the U.S. because they are unable to obtain U.S. citizenship.” — Sabrina Wicker, Campus Vote Project Democracy Fellow with CCEL, sophomore neuroscience and sociology major
“I vote because elected officials will decide our future and I want to choose the visions that I like.” — Milana Sacco, junior business management and theater major
“The university experience allows students to thrive thanks to opportunities that abound, especially having a say in the community and the classroom. I believe the same applies to participating in elections, regardless of size and importance.” — Kethan Srinivasan, sophomore computer science major