Huskies Getting Registered To Vote

Michigan Tech is among 15 public universities to receive a visit from the Secretary of State.  The agency’s mobile unit was located on campus, allowing students to handle their business, including voter registration.

“Secretary of State is sending out the mobile branch unit, which is dropping a branch office right in the center of campus,” said voter outreach coordinator Kristi Dougan.

With general elections just a few weeks away, the Michigan Secretary of State is doing its part to increases participating voters.  “Our purpose is to get students to register to vote in person so that they’re eligible to vote by mail in their very first election,” said Dougan.

“In the past it has been low turn out rates for college students so we’re trying to spread the word and make sure that students know that it is their job to be out here voting and to be involved in our government,” said 5th year student Ben Bergeron.

It was reported that only 34% of Tech students voted last year, and Bergeron says that number needs to increase.

“We sometimes do see a bit of a drop off in a gubernatorial year as opposed to a presidential year, but Michigan Tech has done a wonderful job of getting their students here. We’ve seen increased numbers here at Tech compared to Eastern Michigan University, which is a larger university by population, so we’re very pleased,” said Dougan.

The mobile branch unit spent the yesterday on campus until 4:00 pm today giving students a chance to register, who might not otherwise find time to make it to the local branch, located in Houghton.

“We’re handing out absentee ballot applications so the students who live on campus but are registered at a different address can vote,” Branch Manager Kelly Davis said.

The mobile branch also gives students a convenient opportunity to handle other business.  “We can renew your driver’s license, we can renew your plates, your tabs, we can do pretty much anything. We can do a title transfer, so anything that you would go into a branch office for, we can do here,” Davis added.

After its stop in Houghton County, the mobile branch will make its way to Marquette, and then Sault Ste. Marie before visiting other campuses down state.