New TurboVote voting system makes voting easy for students
From shuffling through papers to seeking out the nearest College Republicans or College Democrats group to having party-affiliation anxiety, registering to vote can be a challenging or frustrating process for students.
In order to promote civic engagement among University of Idaho students, ASUI is promoting its partnership with TurboVote — an online, nonpartisan company that allows voters to register at local polling stations or request an absentee ballot.
According to ASUI President Nate Fisher, this year’s ASUI team is focused on preparing students to become engaged citizens.
Tanner Beymer, ASUI director of policy, said TurboVote makes voting easier and more accessible by bringing the process directly to students.
“Our generation has the reputation of being disengaged, being self-absorbed, but I think we really have an opportunity and a desire to have our voices heard,” Beymer said. “Voting can be an intimidating process to people, but TurboVote is an easy way for students to be actively engaged.”
He said students are able to register through Latah County if they have lived in Moscow or the surrounding area for at least 30 days, or they can choose to register through their home district. After signing up with the program, TurboVote will send materials to the student’s address with pre-stamped return envelopes. The student is then able to fill out the included forms and easily send them back via mail.
“TurboVote is a really cool system because, in addition to allowing students an easier way to register, they are able to sign up and receive news and updates concerning the elections,” Beymer said. “Students are able to receive these election updates and reminders through email or text.”
At Wednesday’s ASUI Senate meeting, Fisher said 127 students had already signed up on TurboVote as of Tuesday. He also said while that number is OK, ASUI would like to see the number go up.
“We’d like to continue pushing TurboVote and see increased student civic involvement as we move towards the November 4th election,” Fisher said.
Elise Moote, a UI student, is a registered voter and has voted each year since her 18th birthday. However, it was not through any service offered through the university. Though registered in her home district, Moote said she thinks TurboVote seems like a cool opportunity for those not already registered.
“I like that TurboVote is accessible to students,” she said. “We’re a big part, as students, and legislation affects us, especially in regard to things like student loans, so it’s important that we get our voice heard and the only way to do that is to take an active role.”
Another UI student, Patrick Estberg, recently registered to vote using TurboVote. Estberg said this is the first year he has registered in Latah County, as he was previously registered to vote in Boise.
“My family moved away from Boise this year, so I’m not as tied to the Boise area as I previously was, whereas I feel more tied to this locale,” Estberg said.
Moote said she’s sure the majority of her friends are registered to vote, but realizes a lot of students are not.
Estberg said due to students being in a temporary location away from their home district or state, he would be more hesitant to say the majority of his friends are registered to vote. Estberg also said he recognizes the issue of out-of-state students voting in Idaho.
“They don’t know the issues that they’re voting on that affect people from Idaho,” he said. “Between elections and when effects on voters are seen there is a huge time gap, so they may not see that change.”
Regardless of whether students vote in their home districts or in Latah County, Estberg said he agrees it’s important for people to vote.
“It’s important to be involved in the democratic process,” he said. “This is a responsibility that we all have to bear, when you have a government by the people, for the people, it’s the people’s responsibility to vote for who will represent us.”
Students can sign up for TurboVote at uidaho.turbovote.com.
Cara Pantone can be reached at arg-news.uidaho.edu