Students
from across the state have formed the Arizona Student Vote Coalition to
make sure that students and the issues that they care about receive
attention during the 2006 Election. The Arizona Student Vote Coalition
registered over 4,000 students to vote, and now plans to educate and
contact over 10,000 students from across the state by Election Day. The
Arizona Student Vote Coalition is comprised of the Arizona Students’
Association (ASA), the Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona
PIRG), and the university student governments.
“Some
of the closest races this election are in university districts,” said
Isaac Kimes, an Arizona PIRG Intern and ASU Tempe student. “By having
one-on-one conversations with over 10,000 students across the state, we
are going to make sure young people have a significant impact on
Election Day.”
The
Arizona Student Vote Coalition will mobilize voters by focusing on
grassroots methods such as tabling on-campus, canvassing residence
halls and student neighborhoods, and making reminder phone calls to
students before election day. Research has shown that young people are
much more likely to vote when they are asked to do so by a peer.
Youth
voter turnout increased significantly during the last election cycle.
“I feel that this election, more than any other election in recent
history, is going to show the importance of the student vote,” said Liz
Simonhoff, Vice President of the Undergraduate Student Government at
ASU Tempe. “It is important for all students to get to the polls, know
the issues, know the candidates, and make an informed vote.”
Among
people aged 18-24 across the country, voter turnout increased 11
percentage points between the 2000 and 2004 elections, while the
overall electorate showed a 4 percentage point increase. In Arizona in
2004, turnout among 18-24 year-olds increased an impressive 17
percentage points. This year the Arizona Student Vote Coalition hopes
to increase turnout amongst 18-24 year-olds over the last midterm
election, in which 11% of 18-24 year olds turned out to vote in
Arizona.
“Students
really could have an impact on this election. Candidates should see us
as a viable constituency,” stated Imran Kirkland, an ASA Board Member
and student at ASU West.
The
coalition will be focusing on turning out students to vote at Northern
Arizona University; the University of Arizona; and the Tempe, West,
Downtown, and Polytechnic campuses of Arizona State University.
###
A project of:
Arizona Students' Association (ASA)
Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG)
Undergraduate Student Government at Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus (USG)
Graduate and Professional Student Association at Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus (GPSA)
Associated Students of Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus (ASASUP)
Associated Students of Arizona State University at the West Campus (ASASUW)
Associated Students of Northern Arizona University (ASNAU)
Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA)
