Dec. 7 is an important day for many students — some will be watching the SEC championship game and others studying for finals. In all that activity students may not remember to vote in the runoff election for U.S. Senate.
Because some students will not have the opportunity or remember to vote Dec. 7, Student Government is taking steps to ensure everyone will have a chance to vote.
SG will pass out absentee ballot request forms in Free Speech Alley Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“A lot of students would call for information on how to vote and where,” said Mark Higgins, Student Government vice president. “We did some research and contacted the Commissioner of Elections to find out how we could help students vote.”
Sandy Petit, an elementary education sophomore, said she voted Nov. 5 and plans to vote Dec. 7.
“Our one vote could count,” Petit said. “Everyone needs to vote — it is the right thing to do.”
There are two different ways to vote by absentee ballot. The first is to request an absentee ballot by mail.
Higgins said SG has the request forms ready for students. The form requires students to print their local addresses and the addresses where they are registered to vote. If students do not know their registrars’ addresses, SG will have all addresses in FSA with request forms.
The second way for students to vote is in person. During the Thanksgiving holidays, anyone can go to the Registrar of Voters office to vote. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We just want to make students aware of how they can vote,” Higgins said. “We know it is the weekend of the SEC championship and the weekend before finals, but students should vote this Saturday when they are home.”
Carlton Allen, a business junior, said he registered to vote after the Nov. 5 election because he felt compelled to vote.
“I want to know how [the election process] works,” Allen said. “You can’t say anything if you don’t vote.”
Students who are not registered to vote also can register at the SG office or in FSA. Students unable to fill out request forms in FSA can fill out request forms in the SG office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.