Group loses office as local elections loom

With a little more than two months left until town elections, VoteCarolina, student government’s voter registration arm, finds itself both gearing up and searching for a home.

With a student and a recent graduate in the race for Chapel Hill Town Council, VoteCarolina leaders expect a spike in student voter participation.

Jason Baker, a UNC junior, and Walker Rutherfurd, who graduated last year, are two of nine candidates running for four open seats.

Jeremy Spivey, chairman of VoteCarolina, said he thinks that Baker and Rutherfurd’s participation in the race will draw out the student vote.

“I think the fact that we have two students running is a great incentive for students,” he said.

Spivey said his goal is to have 10 times as many students turn out to the polls this year as compared to the 2003 municipal elections, which saw only 329 participate.

And that ambitious goal could face several obstacles.

While moving into the student government office, Student Body President Seth Dearmin redistrubuted the layout of the offices, leaving VoteCarolina without space to store voting information.

Spivey underscored the importance of safeguarding voter registration forms. Misplacing a completed form is a misdemeanor offense.

“I don’t feel comfortable asking VoteCarolina board members to process forms and deliver them to the Orange County Board of Elections … unless it’s under lock and key,” he said.

While it no longer has a permanent home, VoteCarolina will have access to the resources of the student government office, Dearmin said, adding that if needed he will allow them to store forms in his office.

“I’m happy to have them lock up forms in my office,” he said. “As of right now there hasn’t been another location.”

Although the lack of space has been a hassle, it won’t prevent VoteCarolina from getting off the ground this fall, Spivey said.

“It slowed us down a little bit right now, but I don’t think it’s been a hindrance.”

Rutherfurd acknowledged that he and Baker have obvious appeal to student voters.

“Candidates like myself and Jason would logically be more attuned to the things that are more important to students — more in tune to student life.”

The key to getting students out to the polls is to highlight issues that affect them, Spivey said.

He pointed to parking availability as an interest to students as the number of UNC permits decreases.

“Another one I think students care about is all the vacancies on Franklin (Street),” he said. “Every one of these (stores), if it is filled, is a prime destination with students.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.