By JALEAH TAYLOR, Assistant Editor
The National Voter Registration Day began on Sept. 24 when the Eastern Phi Theta Kappa chapter started its campaign with tables of food and drinks accompanying registration forms. The Voter Registration Contest engages all colleges in Oklahoma to encourage students to be involved in the voting process by registering and voting when the time arises.
Eastern’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter has been involved in motivating students to register by setting up registration tables during the week and sharing the importance of voting. Brenda Strange, PTK adviser, adds that the Voter Registration Contest is an entity “creating lifetime citizens through civic education, (and that) colleges and universities are vital agents and architects of preparing students for democratic citizenship.”
“Oklahoma Campus Compact’s goal is to support campuses,” adds Strange, “leading in civic engagement through partnership on voter registration and election participation.”
Throughout the years, Eastern has been able to win the Voter Registration Contest nine times consecutively and 10 times altogether.
“I have voted one time so far in my life, and it was shortly after my eighteenth birthday,” Kendrie Escoe, sophomore says. “The process was very easy and efficient. Voting is important because our nation should be grateful of the ability to vote, and it should not be taken for granted.”
Voter registration forms are available for every state that students are enrolled in and, although some students may be registered in their home state, they can request for absentee ballot to vote in their home state for any local, state, or national election. Students can obtain more information from any faculty member, any PTK Officer, for the McAlester and Idabel campus, directors and administrative assistants.
“The (Eastern) campus has been doing well in terms of encouraging students to partake in voting,” Escoe says. “Different professors and clubs have talked about the importance of voting and the good it can do. There have been emails sent out, flyers passed out, and multiple different attempts by the campus to help spread the word.”
In addition, on Oct. 20, the women’s soccer will be hosting a home game with registration forms available, and Eastern’s competitive teams will be recognized for having their members registered for voting.
The Voter Registration Contest ends on Oct. 10.
“If you are a registered voter, then you can be a part of the democratic process and help to elect officials that will represent you and your family in matters at the local, state, and national level,” Strange says.
