Rallying Brandeis votes
With the 2024 presidential election drawing near, several groups on the Brandeis campus have increased efforts to both register and go out and vote on election day. These groups include The VoteDeis Campus Coalition, The Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation and BRANDEIS VOTES events hosted and run by Brandeis library staff and faculty.
The VoteDeis Campus Coalition is a mix of students, faculty and staff who are “committed to supporting voter registration and participation among the Brandeis University community.” The coalition is run out of the Dean of Students Office. Their website provides detailed information on how to register to vote and also gives the Brandeis community details on what type of ballot they will need — in-person, absentee, early voting. Their webpage also provides students with opportunities to get involved with the democratic process, such as being a poll worker on election day.
Also detailed on the VoteDeis website is information about resources to send in voter registration forms and ballots. They encourage those with questions to reach out to the Brandeis Government Information Librarian, Aimee Slater.
Another organization heavily involved with voter initiatives on campus is the Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation. The primary function of ENACT is “to teach college students about democracy through engagement with the legislative process.” As such they have been a vital part of encouraging members of the Brandeis community and more to participate in the upcoming election.
ENACT Your Vote, supported by ENACT, is their “non-partisan initiative to encourage voter participation and civic engagement.” In the upcoming election five ENACT- affiliated schools are participating in the initiative: Brandeis University, University of Hartford, Utah State University, Siena College and the University of Maine. On the main ENACT your vote platform you can look at your next election, check your registration status and more.
BRANDEIS VOTES is also a helpful resource for navigating the upcoming election. The platform is hosted on the Brandeis Library website. It gives broad voter registration information and resources including Vote While Trans, Rock the Vote, League of Women Voters, Federal Voting Assistance program and vote.gov. In addition to general voter information the site details specific voter information by state, a helpful feature for the large number of students who will vote via absentee ballot in the 2024 Presidential election.
BRANDEIS VOTES also hosted several voter registration help sessions. They would like to remind students that librarians can help and they can provide resources including envelopes, stamps and a notary service.
Other various programs and departments on campus have played an important role in encouraging students to vote. This has been both through promoting watching the presidential and vice presidential debates and voter registration initiatives on campus. Some of these departments include Journalism, Legal Studies, American Studies and Politics, as well as student organizations including the Brandeis Student Union and Brandeis Democrats.
College students have a significant role to play in the 2024 election, as they represent an increasingly engaged younger demographic. Voting allows us to have a say in issues that directly impact our future and shape the direction of our country. No matter who you vote for, we as an editorial board urge all who are able to go out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5 or vote by absentee ballot.
—Editor’s note: The Justice editor Nemma Kalra ’26 is employed by Brandeis’ Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation and did contribute to and edit this editorial.
—Editor’s note: The Justice managing editor Eliza Bier ’26 is employed by Brandeis’ Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation and did contribute to and edit this editorial.
—Editor’s note: The Justice editor Julia Hardy ’26 is on the executive board of Brandeis Democrats and did contribute to and edit this editorial.
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