Obama Supporters Help Marshall U. Students Register To Vote
This story was written by Kyle Hobstetter, The Parthenon
The Students for Barack Obama want students and faculty to register to vote for the 2008 Presidential election.
Marshall University's chapter of The Students for Barack Obama will be holding a campus-wide voter registration today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The group will have a table in each of the dorms, as well as Harless Dining Hall and the Memorial Student Center.
Daniel Hager, Marshall's chapter coordinator of The Students for Barack Obama, said they usually just stick to the student center with voter registration, but now they want to go and get students more involved.
"In the student center we wanted students to come to us," Hager said. "But now we are going to take the drive to them instead."
While The Students for Barack Obama are mainly in support for the Democratic Party candidate, they are going to be registering anyone willing to sign-up.
Hager wants to get as many people as possible registered and excited for the 2008 election.
"Usually the only time Marshall students get excited about something is when guys have megaphones shouting at people," Hager said.
Catlin Yahr, media coordinator for The Students for Barack Obama, said the group wants to break negative stereotypes of students not getting out there to vote.
"It's a God-given right being able to vote," Yahr said. "And it is ridiculous students don't take advantage and take the responsibility to vote."
One of the main reasons the organization is focusing on voter registration is the recent increase in voter turnout in other states.
Hager said so far in this primary election season, every state has had record-breaking voter turnout.
Hager said he wants to continue the trend with West Virginia.
While the organization wants to get more voters involved, is is also competing with West Virginia University's chapter to see who can register the most voters throughout the week.
"Not only do we have a chance to get more people involved, we also can take pride in beating WVU," Hager said.
To register with The Students for Barack Obama, you don't have to be an unregistered voter.
If you are registered as a different political party, and now support a candidate from the other, you can re-register.
© 2008 The Parthenon via U-WIRE