VoteCarolina's focus continues after election

Members of VoteCarolina dedicated countless hours this fall to motivate students to vote in the presidential election.

But their work didn't end when the polls closed.

The nonpartisan student organization, launched by Student Body President Matt Calabria to increase the number of students who vote, will remain intact and already is shifting its focus to local politics.

Calabria said VoteCarolina surpassed his expectations in correcting the inefficiencies of voter registration drives done by campus organizations in past years.

"VoteCarolina puts a name on civic obligation," he said. "It is an effort students can recognize."

Amon Anderson, chairman of VoteCarolina, said the organization will concentrate on correcting the mistakes made during the most recent election to further its success.

"We will undergo a process of evaluating our policies and practices, the University's policies and practices and Orange County's policies and practices," Anderson said. "We will submit our evaluation publicly and use it to lobby for changes."

VoteCarolina officials also said the group will be involved in bringing next year's local elections to the forefront of campus activity.

"I want students to be informed and educated about the town elections," said Jeremy Spivey, executive board member of VoteCarolina.

Anderson said next year's efforts will be more difficult and noted that vigor embodied the campus during the presidential election and acted as a key element in VoteCarolina's success.

"It will be more challenging to create the energy about local elections that is comparable to the energy that surrounded the national election," he said.

The group will continue to target students, specifically undergraduates, Spivey said.

But VoteCarolina will try to extend more opportunities and informational resources to those students who reside off campus, he said.

"On-campus undergraduates are our target audience because they are the easiest to reach," he said. "I wish there was a more effective, organizational way to reach people who live off campus."

VoteCarolina will continue to expand its efforts by involving more students who represent different political agendas.

"I hope we can continue to have representatives from student government, Democrats, Republicans and Independents," Spivey said. "Representing an unbiased account is important to the students."

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.