Chancelor John Wiley urged students Tuesday to learn about the presidential candidates, register to vote and participate in the 2008 Wisconsin primary Feb. 19.
As I'm sure everyone is already aware, Wisconsin voters will have the chance to make their voices heard in the presidential primary,"" Wiley said in an e-mail sent to all students Tuesday.
UW-Madison's Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group is currently working to ensure students will be well represented when polls open next week.
""We're really focused on getting new voters to the polls,"" WISPIRG Chair Jeff Rolling said of the group's New Voters Project. ""Candidates are coming to students because they know that students are turning out in record numbers.
""We really have the ability to sway an election outcome.""
WISPIRG has many plans to appeal to new voters, but their upcoming Feb. 14 campaign may grasp the most attention.
In light of National Condom Week, the group will host a ""Lose Your Political Virginity"" tabling event at Memorial Union. Its goal is to bring in as many new voters as possible. In years past WISPIRG has brought voting attention to over 100,000 students.
Issues like health care, higher education costs, social topics and the Iraq War are increasingly grabbing the attention of students all over the nation.
The university has already been the focal point for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Chelsea Clinton. Feb. 16, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama will visit Milwaukee. Former president Bill Clinton will visit Madison Thursday, as well as presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee.
Students who live off-campus can find their polling location at cityofmadison.com/clerk/voterwhere.cfm. Students living in university housing can log on to uc.wisc.edu/vote. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and students can register on Election Day at their polling location with a valid proof of residence or witness.
Election Officials Needed
The Madison's City Clerk is seeking Madison residents to help with the Feb. 19 Primary Election. Anyone interested in serving as an election official can submit an application at cityofmadison.com/clerk/pollworker.cfm. To qualify as an official you must be a Madison resident age 18 or older, an eligible voter and a U.S. citizen.
