Every member of the UCLA community allowed to do so should vote in the upcoming primary election. The primary will not only determine the presidential nominees for both major political parties, but also include important state and local issues.
At UCLA, dorm residents are brought voter registration forms from resident assistants and other students can acquire the forms by simply visiting the post office. Alternately, students can even visit Web sites like www.rockthevote.com, which allow users to input some basic personal information, then print out registration forms to mail in.
When it comes time to vote, several polling places are available both in the dorms and in the apartment areas.
Since UCLA students originally come from cities all over California and the United States, registering locally is an important step not just in promoting youth empowerment, but also in fostering interest in local issues.
UCLA students should not just come to college to take classes, but also take it upon themselves to become familiar with local issues and effect change in the region.
Some students, however, will vote absentee, either by choice or necessity. Many students go abroad, but still should not be deterred from voting.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Web site, www.fvap.gov, provides information about absentee voting, including the downloadable absentee ballot application, state-specific instructions for completing the form, links to state and local officials, and a downloadable emergency ballot.
Web sites such as www.overseasvotefoundation.org, a non-partisan voter-assistance site that was recently revamped, will also mail, fax or e-mail registration forms and ballots to voters, which then allows them to mail or fax in their registration paperwork upon completion. Political parties in most states even give the option of registering and voting in primaries while out of the country, via mail or fax.
Whether at UCLA or abroad, students must voice their political opinions through voting to ensure that politics in America accurately reflects the needs and desires of the citizens.
To further facilitate voting abroad, a new Congressional caucus, Americans Abroad, was formed last spring. Last November the caucus introduced two bills that seek to simplify voter registration, educate voters and ensure that expatriates’ ballots are counted.
H.R. 4173, the Overseas Vote Act, was introduced by California representative Michael Honda and primarily seeks to promote voter participation among citizens abroad.
H.R. 4237, the Overseas Voting Practical Amendments Act of 2007, primarily seeks to ensure that states do not refuse balloting materials generated by computer programs.
These two bills are yet to be scheduled for debate, but students should still be aware of them now and support this type of legislation in the future.
Since our age demographic commonly spends time abroad via school programs or the military, these acts are crucial to ensure that our political voice is heard.
With California primaries in early February and presidential elections in November, the political importance of the year 2008 has never been clearer, and the process for UCLA students to vote has never been easier. There is no excuse for students to neglect their right to vote.