Students encouraged to re-register with correct address
Election season is here, and CU’s student voter registration is in full swing. All across campus voter registration booths have been highly visible to CU students.
New Era Colorado, a non-profit organization working to increase the number of student voters, has created an active presence on campus through its campaign of Buff Bulletin announcements and voter registration booths.
“Our goal is to register 3,000 student voters for this fall,” said Carrie Jackson, program director of New Era Colorado. “So far, we’ve been very successful this year.”
The presence of voter registration booths has made it easier for busy students to register to vote.
“I think the fact that there were so many tables set up across campus made it more convenient for me to register,” said Amy Chen, a freshman chemical engineering major “If I hadn’t seen the booths, I probably wouldn’t have registered because I would have forgotten or not had time.”
Some students have been having difficulties voting because they are unsure whether to provide their home or student address when registering.
“A lot of new freshmen don’t know their new addresses when they register to vote, and so it makes registration difficult,” Chen said. “When I registered I had to give my school address as my permanent address, but I don’t consider my school address my permanent address.”
Problems can occur when students vote with an incorrect address.
Students who have voted with an unregistered address have had their ballots shredded.
“It’s a fairly big problem,” Jackson said. “We’re trying to help the county clerk to fix the registration status of students who have had that problem.”
Part of New Era Colorado’s campaign includes reminding students that they have to re-register every time they move so that their votes will be counted.
Despite registration problems, students still feel that it is important to register to vote.
“If you really want things to change, you have to put in your opinion,” Chen said.
With Boulder City Council elections rapidly approaching, students are being encouraged to ensure that their voices are heard.
“Our big emphasis this year is City Council and making people aware of how important it is,” said Jesse Jensen, director of UCSU legislative affairs. “People are already focusing on the presidential elections, but we’re trying to stress the importance of the City Council elections.”
City Council elections will be held Nov. 6.
“I’m not planning on voting in the City Council elections because I don’t know much about the issues,” said Chen. “I’m more interested in presidential elections.”
Contact Campus Press staff writer Katherine Spencer at Katherine.a.spencer@colorado.edu.
