Registration deadline looms

The window of opportunity for students and Bloomington residents to make a difference in the November election is getting smaller. The last chance to register to vote in the upcoming November election is at 4 p.m. today.\nVoter registration began May 31, but Deputy Registrar Barbara Borrill said there are always people who wait until the last minute. Borrill said whether voters register in May or today, one vote in an election can mean everything.\n"It is very very important to register to vote," Borrill said. "Voters can have a large effect on the candidate if they get out and vote. Many register and then don't vote, so they have to remember to do both."\nShe said interested voters can come to the Monroe County Voter Registration office, most government offices or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to register. Registration applications can also be sent by mail, but Borrill said all mail-in applications must be received at the Voter Registration Office by midnight.\nThe chance for students to register to vote has been largely advocated in greek houses, residence halls and around large classroom buildings such as Ballantine and Woodburn Hall for the past weeks. The two largest political organizations on campus, IU College Republicans and IU College Democrats, have both taken to the streets to raise voter registration awareness.\nChairman of the College Republicans, senior Angel Rivera, said the group has visited greek houses and residence halls with pizza and city Republican candidates to sign students up to vote in the next election. He said the efforts have worked the past two years. The group has signed up more than 1,000 voters each year. \nRivera stressed the importance of students getting involved in voting for local politics since many city policies have a direct impact on students.\n"(A student's vote is) super important," Rivera said. "Students make up more than half the population in Bloomington. With students' votes, we can make a big difference in local politics."\nThe College Democrats have also been on campus and around the city urging students and Bloomington residents to register to vote. Senior Dan O'Neill, political vice president for the College Democrats, said the student vote on local politics is greatly needed. He said city officials vote on everything from housing to parking tickets and many other issues that affect students on a daily basis.\nMany students chose to stay registered in their hometown, but O'Neill said it is best if they register in Monroe County.\n"The truth of the matter is most of students' time is spent here and most of what happens in city politics deal with students directly. We have strongly encouraged people to register in Monroe County," O'Neill said.\nHe said he would advise students who haven't yet registered to do so online. O'Neill said applications for registration can be accessed from the state of Indiana Web site or the Secretary of State's Web page.\nThe most important thing for students to remember, Borrill said, is to take their voting privilege seriously.\n"If you are registered, please vote," Borrill said. "It does make a difference."\n-- Contact city & state editor Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.