East Carolinian

Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: staff photo

Election day is approaching.

For many students, this coming election will be the first of which they have actively participated in, casting their first vote towards either of the prospective candidates.

The Student Government Association, in conjunction with the College Democrats, College Republicans and the Resident Hall Association is looking to make this voting experience a smooth one, shedding light on voting in Greenville.

The initiative is being called the "iRock the Vote," and will be held this coming Tuesday, Oct. 28 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Todd Dining hall.

"We are looking to encourage and show all college-age students, no matter [their] affiliation, the importance of voting and having a voice in every election," said Brad Teasley, the SGA Chief of Staff.

Students at "iRock the Vote" will have the opportunity to speak with politically affiliated clubs and organizations about state and local government.

The event will provide students with the opportunity to learn briefly about the stance of prospective candidates with only a few days left before the election.

"We wanted students to have a chance to meet and greet with their Student Government Association representatives as well as representatives from the Residence Hall Association," said Wintre Clark, the director of Student Affairs for SGA.

In addition to learning how and where to vote in the city of Greenville, the first 100 commuter students will have their lunch paid for by the SGA.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 126 million registered voters took part in the 2004 election, about 89 percent of registered voters at the time.

Early voting kicked off in North Carolina on Oct. 16, with voters having an opportunity to skip lines on Election Day. For those not already registered, North Carolina law allows everyone to register and vote at the same time during early voting sites across the state.

There are six different sites in Pitt County, including the first ever site on ECU's campus, at the Newman Catholic Center on Tenth Street. Voting at this location begins on Friday. All interested voters must present a form of identification and proof of residence in the county in which they reside.

"iRock the Vote" is one program in a list of events that will be occurring over the course of the year as part of the SGA's Talk-it-Tuesday initiative. The program allows members of the SGA to promote topics and concerns on campus as to better assist students while giving back to the student body through giveaways and prizes.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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