Helping Campus Register to Vote on National Voter Registration Day

National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 28 and UA Vote Everywhere is setting up tables at key locations across campus to help people register.

“We’re going to have a few table events around campus that day where people can get resources on how to register to vote, check their registration status and receive information about voting advocacy and registration,” said Christian Pickard, a sophomore double majoring in political science and history on a pre-law track and event coordinator with UA Vote Everywhere.

The tables will be set up at the Ferguson Student Center Plaza from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on the Quad in front of Gorgas Library from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About 80% of University of Alabama students were registered to vote in the 2016 presidential election, but only about 60% of registered students voted, putting the overall voter turnout for UA at about 49%, according to a report from The National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. Statistics for the 2020 election aren’t yet available.

Vote Everywhere is an initiative of the Andrew Goodman Foundation, which is a national organization that empowers young people to initiate and sustain creative, effective social actions that advance civic engagement and develop cooperative coalitions in local communities.

“We have a very big focus on making sure young people understand just how important it is to vote and be aware of voting rights measures in their state,” Pickard said. “Some states remove registered voters if they haven’t been actively voting, so it’s important to check your registration status.

“People need to know that the laws being passed by people we vote for or don’t vote for do affect us. Even though we’re young, we do have a say on how our futures are dictated, so come to one of our tables on Sept. 28 and we’ll tell you how you can be sure that your registration is secure.”