Getting citizens registered to vote is their mission. But getting people to believe their vote will count is a whole ‘nother matter for volunteers with the League of Women Voters (LWV).
“We try to get as many people registered to vote as possible,” said Dee Hensen, an LWV volunteer who was on campus this week helping SJC Long Island students get registered in time for the upcoming presidential election. “The most important thing for us is to be ready and to be available.”
Hansen and fellow LWV volunteer Esther Glass set up a voter registration table in the Student Hospitality Lounge on National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 27.
The League of Women Voters is a citizens’ organization established in 1920 — the same year women gained the right to vote — to better the nation’s government, connect citizens to choices that effect their lives and give a voice to all Americans.
Glass noted that students commonly remarked, “Our votes don’t matter.”
But is this really how millennials view the nation’s democracy? OnCampus asked SJC students to weigh in on the topic. Here’s what they had to say …
“Why is it important for millennials to vote?”
We should have a voice too. Our opinion matters, especially to our generation because this is our future.”
— Scarlet Ponce ’20 • Nursing • First-time voter
“A lot of people our age aren’t educated on what the real issues are, and we need to be.”
— Nick Dellapace ’17 • History • First-time voter
Our veterans fought for our country to preserve our right to vote.”
— Alex Becker ’18 • History • First-time voter
“The baby boomer generation is going to be gone soon and we need to be educated on what’s happening.”
— Chris Kassebaum ’17 • Marketing • Second-time voter
In general, everyone should vote … Especially because of all the history and women fighting for the right to vote. We should all take advantage of the rights we have.”
— Rosa Apostolico ’18 • Child Study • First-time voter
“We have a different perspective on issues than our parents, and they’re going to affect us more and more as we get older.”
— Emily Fontinhi ’19 • Biology/Psychology • First-time voter
New Yorkers must be registered to vote by Oct. 14, 2016, in order to cast a ballot in the Nov. 8 presidential election.
