News - Local groups make effort to get voters registered as deadline looms

All registration forms must be handed in or postmarked for mailing by October 10 to be eligible to vote in the upcoming election.

Around town and in local schools, efforts are being made to raise awareness of voter registration and to actually get people to the polls. According to the United States Census Bureau, only 60 percent of New Yorkers took advantage of the right that allows us to live in a free nation and voted in the 2004 presidential election. Nationwide, 64 percent of registered voters made it to the polls.

Diane Wade, Republican Commissioner for the Saratoga County Board of Elections, said that more people are registering to vote this year due to the presidential election.

“It’s a given. We always have more people registering during years of presidential election,” she said.

She added that requests for absentee ballots are higher than usual as well.

“This is a big election and people have an interest in it,” she said.

People can register to vote at a number of area places such as the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Saratoga County Board of Elections in Ballston Spa, on the internet and by mail. For residents who will be out of town on Election Day, absentee ballots can be obtained the same way a voter registration forms.

The League of Women Voters of Saratoga Springs has hosted a voter registration booth at the Saratoga County Farmers’ Market every other Saturday since July.

“It’s so important to remember to register,” said LWV president Barbara Thomas. “If you don’t register, you don’t vote. This year we are hoping for a huge turnout.”

She added that as a citizen, voting is important when speaking to assembly people, senators and city leaders.

“If you are on the record as a voter, your opinion really matters. Elected officials will take a voter’s opinion more seriously than someone who hasn’t voted,” she said. “This is especially true for younger voters.”

In an effort to get the younger population to vote, the LWV has programs called First Vote and Take Me to Vote. First Vote is directed at high school seniors and distributes voter registrations in schools. Take Me to Vote is an initiative for parents to bring their children to voting booths and teach them the importance of voting at an early age.

Skidmore College is also doing their part to raise awareness of voting and to get students registered, either here in Saratoga Springs or in their hometowns. The United States considers college students to be citizens of the cities where they are attending college; however, some students use absentee ballots to vote in their hometowns, especially battleground states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, said Skidmore College student government president Jackie Shydlowski. Skidmore College takes part in a voting initiative called Rock the Vote, a campaign that uses music and pop culture to encourage voting and build the political power of the young voters in America.

“We are trying to take different angles and approaches to get students to vote,” Shydlowski said.

Polls will be open on Election Day, Nov. 4, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. statewide.