In preparation for the upcoming Nov. 8 midterm election Jackets Vote has been tabling every day in various buildings around the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
When asked what the purpose of Jackets Vote was, the Voter Engagement Outreach Specialist Claire Stangle said, “Our primary goal is to be a nonpartisan resource. We don’t have any kind of leaning toward an issue. We want people to get registered to vote and to give them the information they need to get out and vote.”
Laura Gapske participating in the town hall meeting.
Jacket’s Vote also hosted a town hall like meeting where the candidates were invited to speak on different topics. The openings are our Wisconsin’s Senate District 25, Congressional District 7, and Assembly District 73 for this midterm election.
To help ensure students have the ability to acquire information about how to register to vote, where to vote, and what all is on the ballot, Jackets Vote have signed tables out every day at various times in the different buildings on campus.
Kelly Westlund at the Jacket’s vote in the YU Great room
“I really like communicating with the people who stop by. To be able to educate them and teach them about what is on the ballot and to help them understand in an everyday type of sense. I think curiosity is a great thing to have.” Senior Sophitia Monarque said on tabling.
Since the program began, Jackets Vote has seen an increase in voter registration and votes since the 2016 election to the 2020 election and are hopeful to see an increase in the upcoming midterm election from the 2018 midterm.
Dick Ausman, the final candidate to speak at the meeting.
Aside from offering information about the upcoming midterm election Jackets Vote have several events planned during the 2022-23 school year. These include a movie screening about jury meandering, both Zoom and in-person paneling, and a book club co-sponsored with the Jim Dan Hill Library featuring “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times” by Mónica Guzmán. Free copies will be available, and the hope is to meet once a week or every two weeks.
When asked about international students who may not have any understanding of the U.S. electoral system, Stangle replied, “We have heard a lot of information from international students about how elections happen in their country and how they are interested in tabling like this to be done in their country. And how we demystify some things. This is your power, take advantage of it and make sure your voice is heard. This midterm election will have a lot of effects on your life. There are big issues on the table that you don’t want others deciding for you.”
More information about Jackets vote can be found by going to uwsuper.edu/vote/index.cfm or by emailing link@uwsuper.edu. Jackets Vote is also part of The Link Center, which can be found in Swenson Hall 1061.
Jackets Vote tabling in the Yellowjacket Union on Nov. 8 | Photo by Drew Kerner
Jackets Vote also helps students prepare and gain experience for jobs in the political field or if they just want to get involved. When commenting on this Stangle said “There are lots of ways for people to come and get involved and if they want to learn more, they can talk to us and set something up.”
