Maddie Conley
Online Editor
Through their Get Out The Vote campaign, the Center for Public Humanities aims to increase voter turnout among the younger generation. The have already provided registration opportunities on campus for students and are now providing transportation to the polls.
The registration tables were effective in reaching the campus community. “They had a pretty good turnout all four days they ran the tables,” Jean Corey, director of the Center for Public Humanitiies, said. “I think they also helped many people apply for absentee ballots. So hopefully that also helped folks cast their votes in their own states and hometowns.”
The Center is also offering rides to the polls today. They have one more ride at 4 p.m. departing from Eisenhower Circle, taking students to the nearest polling location, Bowmansdale Church of God.
“We’re making it so that people can’t have any excuses not to participate,” said Corey. “We added doughnuts for the ride to sweeten the deal!”
This is election is especially important to the Center for Public Humanities because of the effect it has on the state of Pennsylvania. The League of Women Voters, et al v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was a court case that decided the former district lines were the result of partisan gerrymandering. To limit officials drawing the lines simply to protect their political positions and limit political competition, the court demanded new district lines. The results of this election could realign the state.
Politics Professor Jason Renn is one of the creators that remapped the once inequitable lines of Pennsylvania. His work encouraged the Center for Public Humanities to initiate their website and the Get Out The Vote campaign on campus. Their website provides information on why voting is important, how to vote and where to vote.