Editor’s note: The Ball State Daily News reached out to all student organizations on campus via email and social media. Legal Studies Student Association (LSAA), Mock Trial Association at Ball State, Ball State's College Republicans and Feminists for Action did not respond with comments.
Ball State University has a variety of political student organizations preparing the student body for the upcoming 2024 general election Nov. 5. The Ball State Daily News asked the different groups about their mission, plans to attract younger voters ahead of the election and advice for hesitant voters who think their vote may not matter.
Student Government Association (SGA)
Youth voices matter: Vice President Brenna Large said students need to start looking at local elections with as much focus as the presidential election because “every vote counts.”
“It’s expected that the presidential election this year will be determined by, potentially, only a few 1000 votes,” Large said. “So, it's really important that [students] do vote because it really can influence the outcome.”
Encouraging young voters: Large said the way they will encourage voters is by making sure they are registered to vote, as well as explaining to them that their vote matters.
“ … Young people are going to be a driving force in this election,” she said.
Election investments: Large said the Center for Economic and Civic Learning has put money into their initiative to get Cardinals out to vote.
Incentives: The organization is hosting plenty of tabling events, Large said, as well as working with the political sciences department to have an election night watch party.
Different from past elections: This year, the organization is trying to encourage more students to vote because of the presidential election, Large said. He wants to “work with as many groups on campus because we feel that is the best way to get people involved.”
Overall mission: Large said SGA’s mission is to get Cardinals out to vote this fall for the political party of their choice.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Youth voices matter: “Everyone’s vote matters and we should make our voices heard,” Communications Director Laura Forbes said. She also thinks it’s important that candidates hear from the younger generations.
Encouraging young voters: Forbes said the organization has a campaign called, “Yes! You Can Vote!” The campaign encourages people to register to vote and debunks misconceptions about the voting process. Their efforts target younger people who are turning 18.
Election investments: Forbes said the organization[ACLU] put money into their campaigns but did not disclose a specific amount. Forbes said they put the money toward voter education for previously incarcerated people.
Incentives: The organization has an emailing list to keep receipts informed, Forbes said. They also create posters on social media and are working with other partners and businesses to help spread the word.
Different from past elections: Forbes said this year they are sharing stories from people who were formerly incarcerated
Overall mission: She said ACLU’s mission is to increase voter turnout by debunking common misconceptions about voting.
Ball State College Democrats
Youth voices matter: Vice President Hunter Case said student voices do matter. “[Voting] directly affects everybody, especially at local levels,” Case said.
Encouraging young voters: Case said they’re encouraging young voters by organizing tabling events to help register students to vote.
Election investments: Case said the organization did not put any money in for its campaign, and they don’t plan to because they have funds from the Student Organization Funding Allocation Council (SOFAC).
Incentives: Case said they are also doing tabling, as well as“partnering with other political organizations to get election information out, not only encouraging people to register to vote but just making sure they know where they can vote.”
Different from past elections: Case said the organization has not developed any new initiatives and its primary focus is getting people out to the polls.
Overall mission: Case said the organization has not developed any new initiatives and its primary focus is getting people out to the polls.
Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA)
Youth voices matter: “Every vote matters. Our generation in college right now has the potential to be the largest voting block in America, we could swing the whole election if enough of us just went to the polls and voted,” said Justin Garing, social media chair for YDSA.
“[Student voices] need to be heard and can be heard,” he said.
Encouraging young voters: Garing said YDSA has been hosting tabling events around campus. The tablings help students check their voter registration status and become informed about the voting process.
Election investments: Garing said YDSA funds are low, but most of their funding has gone toward snack purchases for students during routine meetings. He said snacks help encourage students to come join the group and register to vote.
Incentives: The organization has been holding tabling events, as well as providing snacks for students in collaboration with the Honors College. Together, the YDSA and the Honors College ran “Votes and Floats” where if students registered to vote, they got a rootbeer float.
Different from past elections: ”We're trying to get the word out about how everybody's vote matters, no matter who you're voting for,” Garing said, asserting that voting is a “civic duty.”
Overall mission: Garing said YDSA’s mission is to help students and young voters understand what socialism is because it is not a dominant political party, according to 2014 voter ideology data in Indiana from Pew Research Center.
More information about the upcoming election, such as deadlines to register and voting locations, can be found online at indianavoters.in.gov.
Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu.
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