The Committee for Political Engagement (CPE) is planning to host two events on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 5, to promote civic engagement for University students.
Students living on campus are able to vote at Plymouth Gardens Apartments, the designated voting location just off the Riverview Bridge at 1400 South Plymouth Avenue. During Election Day, CPE intends to conduct a “stroll to the polls,” where students can join a walking group and cast their ballots together.
“My plan is to have students meet in front of the steps [at the] Warner School of Education,” said Andrew Gold, Associate Director of Community Engaged Learning. “We’ll be leading a group that afternoon, I’d say about 1:00 p.m.. The goal is to get as many folks that want to come out on Election Day to go vote.”
For students who may need additional assistance reaching the polling location, transportation via van is also available. That evening, an election night watch party will also be held in the Rettner Atrium from 6:30 p.m. to around 10:30 p.m.
“We’ll have some food provided, and then we’re going to be watching the election results as well,” Gold said.
Promoting civic engagement among University students has always been a priority of CPE, and next week will mark a culmination of their efforts to get students to the polls.
At events hosted earlier this semester where students are exposed to political debate, Gold finds that the willingness to hear the conversation is what’s gotten him excited: to see an interest in sharing perspectives and having important dialogue on the issues students face.
“If we keep having those discussions,” Gold said, “especially the deliberative dialogue type of discussions where we’re able to bring students together […where] maybe we don’t agree on the same things […] it’s how we’re actually able to engage.”
