Voice Your Vote: Empowering One Voter at a Time
As Forrest Gump once said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get." Many persons view the electoral process in that same way.
The United States is in the midst of yet another "box of chocolates," in this case the Presidential Election. Each slate of candidates has different philosophies and different priority issues. For many, deciphering what the candidates stand for can be an overwhelming task. In an effort to emphasize the necessity of an informed electorate, and demystify the election process, Phi Theta Kappa has launched Voice Your Vote: Empowering One Voter at a Time.
Voice Your Vote (formerly called Project Vote Smart) can provide a key to learning about your choices for political office. Biographical resources, voting history, and issue statements are just a few of the resources offered through the Voice Your Vote website.
Here are a few ways to Voice Your Vote this fall:
- Host a voter registration program for your campus or community. The chapter at North Central State College in Ohio conducted a voter registration drive at their local county fair, where they collected voter registration forms.
- Hold a voter registration drive at your induction ceremony. Induction is a terrific time to showcase a program, especially if that program has impact beyond the Phi Theta Kappa chapter. By offering a voter registration form at your induction, you are creating a convenient setting for new members and in some cases their family members to register to vote.
- Host a debate night on your campus. Three Presidential debates and one Vice Presidential debate are scheduled for late September and October. Choose a night to get together and watch a debate with discussion afterwards. Invite a political science professor from your college to facilitate the discussion.
- Involve your campus Democrat or Republican organizations. To keep your program non-partisan, include a representative of every political persuasion in your planning. The more sources for ideas you have, the better your voter education programs will be.
For more information on the Voice Your Vote Program, contact Chapter Programs Assistant Garon Tate at 601.984.3555.
