As Election Day draws closer and closer, Sonoma State University is working hard to provide as many resources as possible can to make voting accessible to all students. Throughout the next month, there are a variety of scheduled informational events centered around informing students, and there is now a ballot box on campus for Seawolves and locals to safely submit their absentee ballots.
The ballot box, located by the flagpole at the front entrance, is a result of long-time collaboration between SSU’s Center for Community Engagement and Sonoma County, according to Director of Community Engagement Merith Weisman.
When asked where the ballot box idea came from, Weisman said, “We had long noticed that students struggled with getting their ballots in and on time. The county was excited to put a ballot box here and everyone at SSU has been encouraging and supportive.”
The best part of the ballot box is that it doesn’t require a parking pass for access, so anyone in the community can take advantage of it.
“I love that there is a ballot box on campus, because in prior years I did not have a car and finding a place to mail in my ballot was difficult. The ballot box makes it much more accessible,” said Lydia Maldonado, an SSU student currently living in the dorms.
A virtual event being put on by the students in POLS 484 on Oct. 12, “It Matters: California Ballot Measures”, is one of many virtual informational meetings happening within the next month. During the event, students in the POLS 484 course will be providing nonpartisan information on each California proposition, including funding, supporters, and possible outcomes. According to U.S.News, unbiased political information is the key to informed voting nowadays, and this event provides student voters with just that, giving them complete freedom to make informed decisions on their own accord.
If anyone cannot attend this meeting, but would still like nonpartisan information on ballot measures, the Department of Political Science’s Election Resource Center is linked on their website.
SSU is also involved in a statewide initiative put on by California’s Secretary of State: the Calif. University and College Ballot Bowl. The Ballot Bowl is a yearly competition put on by the California Secretary of State, and according to SSU’s Director of Associated Students, Erik Dickson, the competition, “Encourages all eligible students to register to vote and participate in the election.” There are a total of 45 colleges and universities involved, and the institution with the most voter participation wins, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
For remote students, voter support may look a bit different than it has in the past, but it remains accessible to anyone and everyone at SSU. Many SSU organizations have gone out of their way to create virtual events and informational graphics to keep everyone informed and engaged no matter their location. A full list of events for the remainder of the year can be found on the Seawolf Living website. “There are so many important issues and races on the ballot this year that will impact Sonoma State students. Students should take advantage of all the resources to learn about what is on their ballot and then vote,” Dickson said.
