Illinois State Encourages Voter Registration

Date: 9/13/06
Contact: Jan Shane, Provost's Office, 438-7018
Erik Rankin, Politics and Government, 438-3709
 

With a midterm election coming up this November, Illinois State University wants to make sure that its students are registered to vote. This month, the University will reach out to all students through letters and emails that contain information on how to register.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 18, emails containing voter registration forms will be sent to all students. Students living in the residence halls will also be receiving letters containing voter registration forms in their mailboxes during September. The letters and emails will contain information on voter registration procedures along with a message from campus leaders urging them to register, if they have not done so already.

Illinois State is one of 80 colleges and universities across the U.S. taking part in a voter registration initiative by the American Democracy Project. The drive aims to get thousands of new voters registered in time for the November election. The outcome of the initiative will also allow participating institutions to determine the most effective ways of communicating voter registration information to students.

"We are encouraging Illinois State students, and all young people, to be civically- engaged, active participants in the democratic process," said Jan Shane, Illinois State associate provost and member of the University's American Democracy Project leadership team. "Voter turnout by college aged Americans increased dramatically in 2004. We witnessed that on campus as large numbers of Illinois State students came to the polling places, many for the first time. We want that trend toward active political engagement to increase."

For more information on American Democracy Project activities at Illinois State visit www.illinoisstate.edu/americandemocracy