On Friday, September 13th, the Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center held an event to educate student organizations on how to register fellow students to vote. The session covered the voter registration process and guidelines for hosting campus events.
Jill Hawkins-Wright, the center’s director, emphasized the importance of the gathering, stating, “We wanted to be able to have a space where we could be in the same room together, hear the same information, ask questions, and learn from one another to ensure that everyone is prepared to hold a successful voter registration event.” Attendees also received information on how to collaborate with the center for future events.
The presentation began with key voting-related terms, including ‘bipartisan,’ ‘absentee ballots’ and ‘early voting.’ Specific information tailored to UIS students followed, highlighting that students living on campus for at least 30 days can register using their campus address. For those registered on campus, their designated voting location is at Lincoln Land Community College. To ease access, UIS will provide a shuttle to Lincoln Land on Election Day, and early voting will also be available on campus.
Important dates were outlined during the session: the deadline to apply for voting by mail is October 31st, early voting concludes on November 4th, and Election Day is November 5th, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as voters are in line by 7 p.m., polling stations must remain open to accommodate them. For more information about registration status, early voting, and mail-in ballots, the Illinois State Board of Elections was recommended as a key resource.
The discussion then shifted to hosting voter registration drives as student organizations. Colleges are required to assist students with voter registration, and many student groups have chosen to host these drives to boost student participation. The session emphasized the importance of following bipartisan procedures during these events. Furthermore, it was noted that student organizations are not permitted to offer handouts or giveaways when conducting voter registration activities.
In the second half of the presentation, details on collaborating with the Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center were shared. According to Hawkins-Wright, this part was included “so that [the center] could support students who often have service goals and initiatives through their orgs, so that we can work together to help place them with service opportunities and nonprofits in the community.”
The center highlighted several ways student organizations can get involved. One option is participating in service projects, often held over spring break, where students volunteer with various organizations across the United States. Student groups can also collaborate on existing events or propose new initiatives, provided they contact the center at least six weeks in advance to coordinate details and roles. Additionally, weekly volunteer opportunities are posted on UIS Connection, with one to three events occurring regularly. Transportation is offered for off-campus activities.
Hawkins-Wright concluded by expressing the center’s desire to “work together so that we’re making the best use of all of our time by having a great network of nonprofits and service opportunities, making the process easier for students wanting to get involved in service.” For further information on voter registration or service projects, students are encouraged to contact the Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center.
