Election@Bard Registration Drive: First-Year Students Explain Why It’s Important for their Demographic to Vote

By 9 AM on Arrival Day, a snaking line of 200 first-year students and their parents filled the corridor of the Reem-Kayden Center, waiting to register to vote at the convenient station set up by the Center for Civic Engagement’s Election@Bard initiative. Another 200 signed on to Motivote, an online platform that provides students with accessible and streamlined voter information throughout the academic year.
 
Three hours later, almost half of the incoming class of 2028 had registered to vote in either Dutchess County or their hometown, or signed up for absentee ballots. When asked what motivated them, many stressed the importance of their demographic group voting, especially during a year marked by yet another contentious presidential election. They also had a few things to say about voting strategically.

Hanna Freeman, a new arrival from Southern California, heard about the registration opportunity and then discussed it with her mother before deciding to register to vote in Dutchess County. She says she did it for two reasons: first, it would be much easier to vote in the location where she expects to be living full time over the next four years. Second, she thinks her vote could potentially have more of an impact in New York.

Freeman also says she hopes to keep gathering more information about voting and organized politics. She says that while she and her friends talk a lot about social issues, she would like to have more conversations with them about politics and voting. “I find I’m always talking to my parents and older people about politics. With my peers, we talk about activism and human rights but not so much about laws and elections…For people my age who are voting for the first time, it’s good to get involved. I don’t want to wait until I’m 22. I want to get the hang of it,” she says.

Election@Bard is a student-led initiative that helps students register to vote; provides information about candidates, registration deadlines, and polling locations; hosts candidate forums; and protects students’ right to vote. Since 2014, undergraduate students, with the support of CCE and the Andrew Goodman Foundation, have fought for Bardians' right to vote and in 2022, Bard College finally secured a permanent campus polling site.

Sierra Ford ‘26, student leader of Election@Bard, echoes what many new students are saying about the effect youth voting might have on shaping government policy and society. “As young people, we are the next generation who will set the terms for how we wish to be governed. This is why it is imperative that we engage in democracy, holding our leaders electorally accountable and creating a community that works for us.”

Kamisha Jackson, who registered to vote back home in Buffalo but then decided to switch her registration to Dutchess County, agrees that it is important to vote to try to affect government. “This year it’s a big deal to me because you can’t run from the current political climate. I turned 18 and I’m excited to vote, regardless of what the voter turnout is. It’s important to me.” 

Elfnesh Peklo registered to vote in Minnesota right before coming to New York, voted in the primaries there, and then signed up for an absentee ballot. Peklo thinks her vote for more liberal candidates could have more impact in Minnesota than New York because there is a diversity of competing political opinions outside the Twin Cities. “It’s not a battleground state but it’s still important,” she stresses. “Even if you don’t like the candidates in the presidential election, it’s still important to vote.”

Zoë James moved from Atlanta and signed up with Motivote so she could get reminders and notifications for upcoming elections. “If you’re 18, you should vote,” says James. “You might think your one vote doesn't matter but the accumulation makes a difference.”

“It’s important to vote not only because Georgia is a swing state but also due to the fact that Georgia tends to be a more conservative state,” says James, who noted her discomfort with Georgia’s ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.

“Helping students to understand their impact as a voter is an important part of getting civically engaged,” says Cicily Wilson, Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement at CCE. “From there, students can look forward to a broad range of opportunities throughout the year with CCE so they can stay involved—from internships and volunteer opportunities to community engagement and activism.”

Learn more about Election@Bard and the services it offers.

Post Date: 08-13-2024