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The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

Rock the Vote registers more than 100

Monday’s “Rock the Vote” voter registration drive was a success according to Levi Bulgar, student government executive vice president.

Bulgar said more than 100 students registered to vote in the Library Quad between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with more than 40 registering between noon and 1 p.m.

“Today’s biggest goal was to get students registered,” Bulgar said after the event.

Bulgar said the drive was focused on getting students registered to vote rather than excited to vote.

He said the next step he wants to take in regard to student voting will focus on better educating students on the issues and encouraging them to vote.

“It takes a little more effort to get students educated on the issues and wanting to vote,” he said.

Bulgar and other student workers stood in the information booth of the Library Quad and asked students as they walked by if they were registered to vote.

Those who were interested were then asked to fill out a form, which Bulgar and others said would take students three minutes to complete.

The drive was a joint effort between the Student Government and the Office of Orientation.

Bulgar said the drive was located in the Library Quad because they knew they would reach more students there.

Many first-time and veteran voters stopped to register for a variety of reasons.

Michelle Nocek, a freshman early childhood education major, said she was excited about having the opportunity to register to vote.

“I want to be able to vote,” Nocek said.

Nocek said she thinks it is important for people to vote because it has a big impact on how the government runs this country.

“If everyone votes, I think it will make a big difference,” Nocek said. “Even if it’s by just one vote.”

Kelli Bradley, a freshman communication studies major, said she registered Monday because she wants her opinion of society to matter.

“I want to have a say in what’s going on,” she said. “I want to choose who’s going to be my voice.”

Bradley said she does not believe people who do not vote have the right to complain about the government because they refuse to vote in social matters.

Ron Walker, a sophomore sociology major, said he agrees with Bradley on this subject.

“I don’t feel like sitting around and complaining about the government when I can do something about it,” Walker said.

Jennifer Cirillo, sophomore special education major, registered alongside Walker and said she wants to vote because she wants to make the government better.

“I like good people and I think maybe I can be that one person whose vote makes a difference,” Cirillo said.

Bulgar said Monday’s event would not be the only of its kind on campus this semester.

“It’s definitely not going to be the last one,” he said.

Bulgar said he hopes to have a voter registration drive every month and wants to set up a weekly desk in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union where people can register.

Rock the Vote registers more than 100

Rock the Vote registers more than 100

Levi Bulgar, a senior psychology major, checks over Andy Laird’s, a sophomore elementary education major, voter registration form during the drive Monday afternoon in the Library Quad.

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