Campus groups pitch in to help student voters

Several campus groups want to make it as easy as possible for students to vote next week.\nIndiana Public Interest Research Group, College Republicans and College Democrats are currently working hard to get students to go the polls on Nov. 5.\nOn Saturday, INPIRG held "Jam the Polls" in Dunn Meadow, with three bands, free food, and lots of voting information for students. \n"We're trying to make it as easy as possible for people to get this information," said Christine McGinley, a member of INPIRG and organizer of the event. \n"With everything that's going on in the news, the election kind of gets left out," McGinley said. "We're trying to pick up on that slack as much as possible."\nINPIRG also held a voter registration drive on campus this year. McGinley said they registered about 200 people by walking around campus and going to places such as People's Park downtown.\nThe College Republicans held a voter registration drive as well, concentrating on students in dorms and Greek houses.\nAngel Rivera, Internal Vice President for College Republicans estimates that more than 1,000 people were registered by the group.\nMembers of both College Democrats and College Republicans will be found on election day handing out literature and helping students get to the polls.\n"We will give anyone a ride to the polls who needs one," said April Gonzales, political vice president for the College Democrats.\nGonzales says the group has been extremely busy lately, holding events nearly every day in order to gear up for the election.\nThus far, the College Democrats have worked with the larger Bloomington Democratic party in order to promote individual candidates. But on Election Day, their focus will turn toward students when they will hand out literature at polling places, organize transportation for students, and make phone calls reminding people to vote. \n"We generally have a hard time registering Democrats on campus because most IU students register as Republicans or register in their home counties," said Gonzales. "So, we work closely with the Bloomington Democratic party in order to provide them with any amenities they might need."\nCollege Republicans will also be busy on Election Day, using a red limousine and free pizza to lead students to the polls.\nThe IU Student Association, whose "Project Vote Hard" uses a Corvette to entice students to vote, did not return phone messages seeking details on their election plans.