UB Votes initiatives help get out the vote on Election Day

The year 2020 has been marked by the coronavirus pandemic, increasing civil unrest and growing partisan divisiveness in America. As a result, the upcoming election is widely considered to be the most significant one in at least a century — one that will have major implications for decades to come.

To raise awareness and maximize participation by members of the UB community — especially students — in the Nov. 3 vote, a campus-wide committee has planned a number of informational programs and registration events since the start of the fall semester.

UB Votes is a non-partisan effort designed to increase voter registration and engagement among UB community members in national, statewide, local and campus elections by uniting divergent activities from across the university into a single initiative.

The UB Votes committee includes representatives from Student Engagement, Community Relations, the undergraduate Student Association, Residence Hall Association, Athletics, the Erie County Board of Elections, the League of Women Voters, a UB alumnus, the Honors College, the School of Management and the College of Arts and Sciences.  

“Historically, young adults have voted at lower rates than other age demographics for a variety of reasons, and the UB Votes committee works hard every year to engage the UB community in voting,” says Rachel DiDomizio, assistant director for community and civic engagement in Student Engagement, and chair of the UB Votes committee.

“In light of the pandemic, it is extremely important to educate voters about all the options they have to cast their vote. Registered voters can vote absentee, in person early, or in person on Election Day, whichever is best for their individual circumstances,” she continues. “In times of challenge and uncertainty, it is so important for citizens to have avenues to raise their voice and make a positive difference in their communities.”

The keystone of the UB Votes initiative is a website filled with voter registration information that features a “Get Ready to Vote” tab that takes users to another site on which they can register. The last day to register to vote by mail or in person is Oct. 9. 

The committee also sent an email with links to voter registration and absentee ballot forms to all students on Sept. 1. Paper registration forms have also been available in Room 150 of the Student Union.

To complement the website, the committee has planned several virtual and in-person initiatives. These include:

• A short “How to Register” video has been posted by Student Engagement on Facebook, and members of the committee have shared it with their followers on Facebook and other platforms.
  
• A mock presidential election that will include candidate and issue education modules. It is planned for Oct. 26-28, and students can take part via UBLinked. The results will be shared with everyone who participates at the end of that week, DiDomizio says.
• A presidential debate watch party will take place via Zoom on Oct. 22, provided the debate still takes place as planned. Jacob Neiheisel, associate professor of political science, will serve as a resource to students who join in. Students can RSVP on UBLinked.
  

In addition to these activities, UB Votes will provide transportation for students who are registered to vote using their North Campus address to their local polling place, which is Sweet Home High School. The shuttle will pick students up on a loop from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day from Governors, the Student Union and Ellicott Tunnel. It will make stops at 10-minute intervals throughout the day.

South Campus residence halls are being used to host quarantined students, so no shuttle has been arranged for that campus this year, DiDomizio says.

Earlier in the fall, UB Votes held three in-person registration sign-up sessions at the Student Union. DiDomizio says approximately 70 voters were registered at that time.

“Many students informed our volunteers that they now take advantage of voter registration as a part of their high school curriculum,” she says.