College Democrats, College Republicans and Mississippi First hosted a bipartisan voter registration drive this week in the Student Union.
Hunter Pace, president of the Ole Miss College Democrats, said his organization came together for a meeting early this semester and decided that they should work together to create a more civil and engaged conversation about politics at the university.
“We don’t like the extreme polarization of the current political climate, and we thought this voter registration drive was a great start to promoting a more civilized discourse,” Pace said.
Participation in political groups is popular with students, but it can often lead to separation between conservative and liberal ideologies. This joint effort between the two primary political organizations, along with the more neutral Mississippi First, will ideally encourage cooperation between all politically-minded students. Their effort is to promote student involvement by making it quicker and easier for students to claim their right to vote, therefore, claiming their own voice as part of a political demographic.
Many students on campus are not registered to vote, and this principle is not necessarily based on laziness. Rather, there is the sense that college students feel that they might not be able to make an impact in the political arena.
“Last year, I was the only person my age in my town to vote in an election for the local school board after graduating,” said Alyssa Radtke, a senior English major.
Pace disagreed.
“I think that college students can have a huge impact on the political process,” he said. “Whether you knock on doors for a campaign or you register voters, you’re making a tangible difference. See, we’re not the future leaders of America. We are leaders now.”
Pace also added his thoughts about students’ roles in the context of the larger political world.
“When it comes to voting, we have the potential to make up a huge portion of the electorate,” he said. “Many of the elections that affect our day-to-day lives are won or lost by single digits. If we commit to vote, we can have one of the loudest voices in this state.”
Ole Miss has more than a few opportunities for students to get involved in politics on campus. Political groups include the Afrikan Activist Student Alliance, College Republicans, Model United Nations, Ole Miss College Democrats, The University of Mississippi College Libertarians, Young Americans for Liberty and the Dialectic Society.
These organizations are always looking for new members, and students looking for opportunities to expand their political horizons or to meet like-minded students are welcomed.
“We love seeing people who are new to the political process interested in what we do and what we believe,” Pace said. “And that’s exactly what I suggest. Reach out to the groups that you’re interested in and attend a meeting. It’s a great way to get involved in your community and meet new friends.”
Today is the last day to register with drive. The table will be up from 11a.m. and 2p.m. in front of the Student Union. The last day to register for this year’s election is Oct. 4.
