How Can We Get People To Vote?

[Syrinx]

If we could get most people in Alabama to vote, we would be solid blue!

We've got to get the young people, the black people, the mexican people, and the poor people to vote.

How can we do that?

[AUYellowDog]

1. Make them care

It's that simple. If people realize that they have a vested interest as well as a direct impact, they will vote. Under our current political climate, however, people feel disenfranchised and apathetic when it comes to elections. A really good PR campaign (and I've got a few ideas for some) would get people to the polls, but right now there is no such motivation.

[unsavedtrash]

2. I have considered putting up a notice at FOCUS for senior citizens, and talking to older folks in my

neighborhood about offering rides to vote. A lot of the young people I know are students and are not registered to vote in Tuscaloosa. So how to go about getting them to change addresses on voting records so they can vote here. Maybe making up some fliers to put out across campus reminding students to register to vote. If you or other posters can come up with a good idea, count me in to help.

[Syrinx]

3. I wonder...

I wonder if you could get some voter registeration cards from the courthouse and pass them out on campus? I seem to recall people doing that in other places, but I don't know if it's legal here.

Does the University still have the Campus Peace And Justice Coalition? I went to a few meetings when I was in school in the early 1990's. It was a great idea on paper, but in the few meetings I attended, it seemed to be in practice a one-issue organization -- gay rights. I'm for gay rights and all, but that wasn't how it was described in the literature that I had read. Anyway, I'm rambling a bit. I'm just wondering if that organization still exists. Thanks.

[Syrinx]

4. AUYellowDog, this was intended to be a reply to you. I erred.

I suppose celebrities could help

Maybe Joe Turnham should get on the phone with Charles Barkley, and convince him to tour the inner cities and the Black Belt, on a big voter registration tour. :shrug:

[AUYellowDog]

5. I'm up in Birmingham now (job hunting)

But we did do that on campus. However, there are a couple of problems with that approach:

1) Just because a student is registered doesn't mean that they will vote. Class schedules are too intrusive or people don't want to fill out absentee ballots. Hell, many college students won't go to class if it looks like it may rain. Why would they go vote?

2) Many students don't think critically and just vote how their friends/family vote without weighing the pros and cons. I'ld honestly rather have someone vote republican after having thought about it than blindly vote democrat. However, I feel that if they think about it, they will vote democrat.

3) What we need to do is focus on working young adults (18-30). This is a group who is worried about everything that is going on in politics. A perfect add would be something like this:

"What is at stake on November (election day)? Children's Health Care; Quality Public Education; Affordable college tuition; safe, secure retirement options; Think November doesn't matter? Think again"

This will HOPEFULLY urge young adults to turn out. The other downside is that many young professionals don't have time during the day to vote. They go to work at 7 a.m. and work until 6 p.m. with an hour long commute. That's why I'm a proponent of early voting. Retired people have all day to vote, young professionals begining their careers don't. That's how you increase turnout regarding issues. Thats my own opinion, and I think it would work.

[Syrinx]

6. very good ideas, in my opinion

Good luck with the job hunt. I don't know what line you are pursuing, but it would be great if an advertising company with Democratic ties snapped you up. :)

[AUYellowDog]

7. that's what im looking for

communications, media relations, etc is my plans. Unfortunately no takers at the moment...