If you happen to notice a few people waiting attentively at a table as you wait to get your bus pass in the Student Activity Center, say hello — they want you to register to vote.
In preparation for the upcoming statewide elections, the League of Women Voters of Dane County and the Associated Students of Madison have partnered to help students register to vote in Wisconsin and provide information about how to vote in other states.
While the groups previously held voter registration opportunities in fall 2016 to prepare students for the presidential election, this is the first time they have held voter registration during the spring semester.
The first election — the statewide spring primary election for Court of Appeals Judge and Circuit Court Judge — is Feb. 20.
According to League of Women Voters member Marian Matthews, who has led the voter registration effort, the groups have registered hundreds of students since registration began Jan. 16 on the 4th floor of the Student Activity Center.
The voter registration tables are set up in the same room where students pick up their new bus passes. Matthews said this was done to maximize visibility awareness for the upcoming elections.
“We are very committed to making sure that as many students as possible plan to vote,” she said. “During this three week period, there are literally thousands of students who have come through.”
ASM Vice Chair Billy Welsh, who arranged for the voter registration in the Student Activity Center, said this registration opportunity is important for students because many students are living in a different location than when they last voted and need to reregister under their new address.
“I think that is something that a lot of students don’t know,” Welsh said. “Even if you change units within the same building, you still have to reregister for your current address.”
Registration ends Wednesday, but League of Women Voters members will remain available to provide students with additional voter registration information.
UPDATE Jan. 30, 2:03 p.m.: A previous version of the article quoted Welsh as saying voter registration will continue through Friday. Registration officially ends Wednesday.
