Groups tackle voter mobility

Members of campus political organizations have shifted to the second phase of their three-pronged attack to get out the vote.

The deadline for the voter registration already has passed, but organizations now are working to educate and mobilize students before the Nov. 2 election.

Leaders from College Republicans, Young Democrats and VoteCarolina say they are working to make sure registered students are well-informed about the issues and to get the word out about what can be a complicated voting process.

"The week after Fall Break, we're planning student body presidential campaign-like publicity," said Justin Guillory, president of UNC Young Democrats.

He also said the group plans to contact all students who are either registered Democrats or unaffiliated voters to make sure they are getting to the polls.

College Republicans also are focusing on sharing ideas with and providing manpower for the larger organizations of the Republican Party.

Chairman Jordan Selleck underscored the importance of the statewide College Republicans in the 2002 elections, in which they supplied 80 percent of the statewide campaign task force.

"In this stage, the second phase, we're focusing on information sharing and targeting certain individuals," Selleck said. "We're putting extensive emphasis on getting our base out (to the polls)."

Organizers at a Kerry-Edwards fund-raiser in Carrboro on Saturday also started to gear up for their last campaign push before Election Day.

Martha Waller, a graduate student who helped host the fund-raiser, said the purpose of the event was not only to inform people about the presidential elections, but also to promote awareness of local candidates.

"People don't see the local level as a big deal," Waller said.

Many participants said they believe the next phase for the Democratic Party will be to make sure registered voters go to the polls, and some anticipated a change in campaign tactics from both sides.

"I expect that it will get much meaner, but that's a good thing," said Mitch Foxworth, a registered Independent from Carrboro who attended the fund-raiser.

Foxworth said he plans to vote for the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

"Our side needs to learn that skill. I think there will also be harsher competition for uncommitted voters."

Campus political organizations, as well as nonpartisan initiatives, also are heavily promoting early voting at the Morehead Planetarium.

Students registered in Orange County can cast their ballots early.

From Oct. 18 to Oct. 30, the polls are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Amon Anderson, chairman of VoteCarolina, called early voting the "no excuses" option and emphasized its accessibility for students who might only have a small window of time between classes to vote.

Because students who live on campus are divided into six different polling locations and only one of these is on campus, county political groups and campus organizations are providing transportation to the polls on Election Day.

VoteCarolina now is working with the Office of the Provost to try to fund Point-2-Point transportation for students to the polling sites.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.