The University of California Students Association announced last
week that it registered 30,000 new voters for the Nov. 2
election.
In a highly anticipated and hotly contested election, voter
registration has increased across the country compared to previous
presidential elections. With the Oct. 18 deadline for California
voter registration already passed, registrars across the state are
now tallying the newly registered voters and sending out sample
ballots.
In an effort to get out the vote, UCSA set a goal of registering
25,000 new voters ““ a goal it surpassed with the help of more
than 1,000 volunteers, said Matt McFeely, the organizing director
for UCSA. He said most of the newly registered voters are UC
students, but not necessarily all of them.
“There is a growing tide of students fed up with
politicians not addressing their issues,” like increasing
student fees, he said.
McFeely added that specific efforts, including educational
events and celebrity appearances, helped UCSA surpass its goal.
McFeely said the efforts of UCSA do not stop at registration
““ they will also try to inform students about the issues and
make sure they get to the polls on Nov. 2.
In 2000, there were “a little above four million”
registered voters in Los Angeles County, said Kathy Tacawy, a
spokeswoman for the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County
Clerk. She said there were slightly fewer than four million
registered voters tallied as of Friday, but that number was
preliminary and the final numbers would not be available until
later this week.
As the numbers are being processed, Los Angeles, like other
cities across the country, will likely show significantly increased
registration numbers.
At UCLA, the Undergraduate Students Association Council assisted
in the registration effort with a goal of registering 2,500
students. John Vu, the external vice president for USAC, said that
goal was surpassed, but the final number is not yet available.
Vu said the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
and strong opinions relating to student loans are among the issues
drawing students to the polls.
He also said the priorities of politicians have not been higher
education because students have not voted in high numbers in the
past.
“Politicians will be more receptive to what (students)
have to say” if they go to the polls in high numbers, Vu
said.
USAC has events planned throughout the week to make students
informed, including calling voters to tell them where to vote,
having discussions on ballot initiatives and holding forums on the
Patriot Act and affirmative action.
With reports from Robert Faturechi, Bruin
contributor.