As the mid-term elections in November are right around the corner, political parties are in search of voters and are encouraging students to register to vote and use their voice.
 
LSU have seven on-campus political organizations that advocate voting. They include College Democrats, College Republicans, Firearms Rights Coalition, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Students for Sensible Drug Policy, V.O.X. (Voices for Planned Parenthood) and Young Americans For Liberty. State organizations have also been working to advocate voting such as the American Association of University Women (AAUW and Get out the Vote (GOTV).
 
“Voting is not only a right but a responsibility that all students should use,” Deborah Freda, AAUW State (LA) President, said. Freda set up a table to encourage as well as give students the opportunity to register to vote.
 
Nationally, an average of 88 percent college students are registered to vote and only 77 percent actually vote in political elections. In Louisiana, the numbers are quite different. About 60 percent college students are registered to vote and about 48 percent actually vote.
 
For some political candidates this can be a good because they won’t have to work as hard to sway voters but for the public good it can be a treacherous because the voices of the people cannot be heard, according to a study by Professor Richard Niemi of the University of Rochester and Professor Michael Hanmer of Georgetown University.  
 
Dr. Regina Lawrence, Political Communication Area Head, agreed. “Politicians say one thing but if they can sum up who will most likely win the election then it suits them fine if people vote or not,” Lawrence said. “This is why people, including students should vote because it is the opposite of what they expect, and it is your voice being heard.”
 
Get out the Vote was created in the state of Louisiana primarily for college students including a branch for LSU. It is a non-partisan group established for the purpose of expanding voter registration by reaching out to unregistered voters, reminding registered voters to vote and providing candidate and election information.
 
A cause without conflict, they can express themselves by embracing their right to vote in this great democracy; is what the GOTV stands on.
 
 
“Vote in every election,” Nick Nassar, LSU representative of GOTV, said. “Freedom is not measured at the degree to which you are governed. It is measured at the degree to which you participate in your own governance.”
 
Other organizations on campus, College Democrats and College Republicans at LSU, have also been advocating voting. Each organization encourages students to get involved even if they are unsure exactly who or what they are voting for.
 
Why should LSU students take a part in upcoming midterm elections?
 
“That’s easy.” said Lawrence, “On the state level the biggest reason would be the fate of the university is on the line.”
 
She also added that college students should vote because it makes politicians and candidates pay attention to what is the interest of the public.
 
No interest and lack of knowledge are some reasons why college students don’t allow for their voices to be heard but students should rethink their participation in voting.
 
According to Aly Neel, mass communication senior, Voting is “proactive and productive.”