By Itzel Chavero
The 2024 presidential election is just weeks away from occurring as the event is set to take place on Nov. 5.
One of the most important elections is slowly creeping up many first-time voters at Dominican.
Many departments have gathered to organize many events and resources to inform students about an important election.
During the presidential election season, the Office of Civic Learning has been working to highlight election education and voter awareness.
Paul Simpson, director for Civic Learning, has focused on trying to reach students, not only in person, but also electronically.
As a result, he tailored a Canvas shell that allows students to register to vote in under 30 seconds, find their polling sites, and even find nonpartisan research guides on candidates and their polices.
“We’ve got to reach further with our students because there’s a lack of reliable, solid spaces for students to learn these types of things,” Simpson said. “It’s not the fault of young people; it’s the way the world is and the [tons] of misinformation campaigns, AI, and deepfake. There’s a lot of ways we can be misguided.”
Many faculty members have been using and sharing this Canvas module in their courses to spread the word that all these resources can be found in one single place.
Student creativity from sophomore Mia Wallace and the Center for Cultural Liberation are also helping students register to vote by creating a small booklet guide.
The guide consists of QR codes that take students directly to the registration website as well as help them learn more about the political and important deadlines related to the election.
Through a more direct and in-person way, staff members from the Rebecca Crown Library created registration tables on at least six different days and times leading up to Election Day. All made on different days to catch different students up with different schedules.
The last two in-person voting registration tables will be held on Oct. 8 in the Parmer Atrium from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Oct. 14 at the same times in the Lewis Alcove.
Keeping in mind not only the resources offered for U.S. citizens, who are eligible to vote, Phil Skurski, a user experience librarian, also put together many resources for those who are not eligible to vote.
“These things still affect them in very important ways,” said Skurski. “We don’t want anybody to feel excluded from an important process that has such a direct impact in their lives.”
The library staff has also designed a research guide, which are similar to the ones for voters. However, this one is specifically for non-eligible voters as the guide directs them to many advocacy or local support groups to help them get involved.
The staff members want to successfully connect people with community resources that have a reach and impact towards them that they may not be aware of.
While there is no deadline for the last day to register to vote in Illinois, students can still register the same day as Election Day on Nov. 5.
Sophomore Alianna Alcala said she is excited to be a first-time voter and feels like she can make a change with her vote.
“It’s finally going to be my first time voting and I’m so glad it’s in this election,” she said. “I think young minds bring fresh ideas and we are the often directly affected, especially by policies [on] education, immigration, and employment. Our voices need to be heard.”
Dominican has been finding more ways to get students more involved with the 2024 election by organizing registration events on campus, keeping students informed, and helping them contribute to shaping not only their future, but also those of their communities.
“It’s essential for me [to say] that [when] we enter this space and [tell] students that we know this world is bewildering, [that means that] you’re not going to be alone in figuring out your way into navigating this election,” said Simpson.
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