Voter registration table makes voting accessible

By Brianna Wallen

News Editor

As the 2024 election creeps up, it is important for college students to participate.  

According to Tufts University.edu, College students, with a population of 18 million, make up a sizable enough voting cohort to influence election results as well as the future and wellbeing of an informed, fair and participatory democracy.

 For this reason, the Office of Student Conduct and Civic Responsibility set up a voter registration table. 

On Sept. 11, students learned about the voting process.  

 Graduate Intern for the Dean of Students and Student Conduct Angelina Ovalles was present at the event. 

Ovalles said that the event was a way to reach out and inform students on how they can fulfill their democratic duty.  

 “It’s to educate students around the topic of voting and also just the importance of voter registration in general,” Ovalles said.  

 Ovalles said that displaying on-campus resources can make voting easier for students.  

 “It also makes things a little bit more accessible for our students given the importance of this election,” Ovalles said.  

 Ovalles, who graduated in May, is also a part of the college student demographic. 

For this reason, she said she hopes that her peers exercise their right to vote.   

 “It’s important for our demographic of students to vote because of our age and diversity,” Ovalles said. “I think it’s just really important that all students have their voice and be heard.” 

 Voting allows citizens to voice their opinion on various issues that are important to them and can overall enhance civic awareness. 

 Ovalles wants students to know that “voting is their opportunity to kind of just exercise the things that they kind of hold valuable to their rights and like their morality.” 

 While it is crucial to encourage college students to vote, it is important to also recognize the hurdles in their way. 

For many students, this is their first time voting. As a result, they can be left in the dark about ways to register and cast a ballot.  

For healthcare studies major Elise Ryan, a sophomore, the upcoming election will be her first time voting. While Ryan said she is thrilled to do so, she expressed some confusion. 

 “I’m excited, but I haven’t decided how I’m going to do it,” Ryan said.  

 Ovalles shared various ways both in-state and out-of-state students can cast their ballot. 

Connecticut residents can do in-person voting near their home address or vote via mail. 

Out-of-state students can vote ahead of time through an absentee ballot instead of traveling to their hometown. Ovalles also acknowledged that voting is very new and fresh to her demographic.  

 “It being so new that we can vote, it’s really important to educate ourselves around the topic of voting and understanding that if you don’t vote, that’s kind of exempting your voice within the election,” Ovalles said. 

 Even though voting is a new practice to most college students, voting in the upcoming election can allow them to implement that practice early on. 

 “I think all college students should go out and vote so it’s easy to do in the future,” communication major Alan Brockman, a sophomore, said.   

 It is also important for students to recognize that registering to vote is just the first step.  

 “The next biggest hurdle is just voting, like, just vote,” Ovalles said. 

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