No Excuses

This November, the majority of students on campus will be old enough to vote in their first presidential election. While college students across the country have become markedly engaged this election year, many students have yet to register to vote, citing apathy or time constraints. In this pivotal election, however, students should take advantage of the numerous voter-registration efforts underway at Columbia before the New York state Oct. 10 deadline.

This election cycle has brought its share of surprises and excitement for both major political parties, which have energized their bases with electric speeches, surprise running mates, and historic nominees. The solutions offered by the candidates are partisan, but the problems facing the country are not. With large banks and insurers facing bankruptcy and Congress close to passing a $700 billion bailout for the economy, students will be affected by Washington, D.C. politics both before and after graduation. Not only will they face a shrinking job market, they could find their student loans unaffordable or in jeopardy if their lending partners are taken over.

Students should let their voices be heard by registering to vote. Political organizations on campus have done their part to attract new voters—registration forms were even made available during New Student Orientation Program events. Outside of the gates, political parties and campaigns have set up registration booths, hoping to attract unregistered voters with free partisan swag. Students can also go online to find registration information for New York state or their home state, print a registration ticket, and mail it to the appropriate registrar of voters. Even CUArts has joined the initiative, offering registration forms and absentee ballots at the Ticket and Information Center in Lerner Hall. All of these efforts have made registration both accessible and quick for students with busy schedules. Yet despite the prevalence of such initiatives, registration among the student body is still not at 100 percent.

This election year, students find themselves uniquely poised to sway the outcome of the election. Though Columbia has always had a politically active climate, a number of students still have not registered to vote. Students should take advantage of the numerous registration initiatives on campus so that they too can have their say on Election Day.