November 11, 2011

By Bailey Otto

MU College Democrats registered students to vote in Boone County on Wednesday for the Young Democrats of Missouri’s Get Out the Vote Day of Action. This event was part of a statewide competition to get students registered to vote in 2012.

The Young Democrats of America asked the Young Democrats of Missouri to host this event after the organization has held a similar event the past several years. This GOTV Day of Action is intended to find which methods work, which do not and how to improve the process for next year.

“What we’re doing here is a trial run that will be used all across the Midwest for 2012,” MU College Democrats President Matthew Tharp said.

States that will implement similar GOTV days based off Wednesday’s results include Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.

The Young Democrats of Missouri encompass many chapters from college campuses throughout Missouri. Along with MU, Truman State University, UM-Kansas City and St. Louis University hosted this day of action. These universities competed against each other to see who could register the most voters in a single day. As an incentive to participate, the Young Democrats of Missouri will award the victorious chapter $100 for its efforts.

Collectively, the chapters registered a statewide total of 346 students in one day. At MU, 147 students registered, as well as 47 at SLU, 100 at UMKC and 53 at Truman.

“Our voter registration drive was incredible,” Tharp said. “Mizzou led the state in total number of voters registered, and we learned invaluable information that will be critical in the 2012 voter registration push.”

The climate of MU’s GOTV Day of Action was politically neutral. Tharp said the message is not about which candidates students should support, but that students need to get involved and vote.

Members of MU College Democrats handed out voter registration cards in several lecture halls throughout the day and tabled from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Brady Commons at the Student Center.

“I think it is very important to get involved through voting because the young should have the opportunity to shape the future of our country,” freshman Kelly McGonigle said.

McGonigle, a first-time voter, said she found the process quick and simple.

MU College Democrats Communications Director Zachary Henry was one of the members who volunteered to inform and register students. He said he volunteered because he wanted to help other students become involved in government.

“I think it’s important to be involved in your government, to know what’s happening,” Henry said. “To get the benefits from your democracy, you should participate in it.”

Students from out of state and those registered to vote in different counties in Missouri must reregister if they wish to vote in Boone County. After filling out a new voter registration form, citizens are automatically deregistered from voting their previous jurisdiction.

A constitutional amendment will appear on Missouri’s November 2012 ballot that, if voted into effect, has the potential to make voting for many Missouri citizens and out-of-state students difficult. The amendment would require voters to show a photo ID.

If students would rather continue to vote in their hometowns, they can request absentee ballots.

For more information on voting registration and elections, students can visit the Boone County Clerk’s website.