Several campus organizations are preparing for the primary elections Saturday and are reminding students to vote before showing their support for the Tigers at the football game against Auburn University.
“Once people get here, they’re not going to leave campus to go vote,” said Kevin Guillory, state membership director for the Louisiana Federation of College Democrats.
Guillory said the College Democrats are holding an election rally Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Free Speech Alley and on the Parade Ground to remind students to vote the following day. He said campaigns have been invited to interact with students, and pizza will be provided.
“It’s important for students to be educated about all of their options when they go to vote,” Guillory said. “And we’re just asking people to come with an open mind and hear what the candidates have to say. We’re just making sure students know there is an election Saturday.”
Paul Dietzel, College Republicans president, said his organization plans to raise voter awareness as well.
“We are planning on being out in Free Speech Alley Thursday and Friday and really encouraging people to vote on Saturday, if they have not voted early,” Dietzel said. “We know the Auburn game will, in the hearts of most college students, take precedent over the election.”
Evan Hoppe, president of the College Libertarians, said his group has no activities planned to raise voter turnout.
“A lot of people I knew who were aware of early voting went out and did that,” Hoppe said.
Hoppe said the College Libertarians are restructuring their organization and have low membership numbers, which makes it difficult to mobilize election efforts.
Dietzel said the election being the same day as a home game may have an effect on the results. He said Republican front-runner Bobby Jindal may lose votes since a large amount of his supporters live in the Baton Rouge area and will probably attend Saturday’s game.
“Tiger Stadium makes up a small city of 92,000 people,” Dietzel said. “That’s a whole lot of people, and if they don’t end up voting on election day, I think that could really sway the election one way or another. Some of the candidates not in the forefront are kind of banking on that too.”
Dietzel, Guillory and Hoppe said their respective organizations have decided to not endorse a specific candidate at this point in the race.
Adam Parker, Student Government assistant director of external affairs, said SG planned to release an informational election guide packet Monday, but the release has been pushed back a day or two.
The politically-involved students said they feel the election is an important event and hope fellow students will make an effort to vote.
“College students are a big, sleeping giant,” Dietzel said. “And if we could really mobilize college students, I think we’d really be able to make change in the country and make some things happen. Regardless of whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Green Party or anything else, I think it’s important college students get involved and speak up.”
—–Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]