Register to Vote: Students can reg­is­ter to vote on Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the quad. Many stu­dents don’t take advan­tage of the oppor­tu­nity to voice their opin­ion through vot­ing and on-campus reg­is­tra­tion helps make it eas­ier for stu­dents to get involved. Photo By: Kate Dupon | Photo Editor

As a cru­cial elec­tion for the Michigan gov­er­nor approaches, Ferris stu­dents have the chance to reg­is­ter to vote at the north quad.

From 10 a.m.-6 p.m., there will be a pavil­ion set up next to the Woodbridge Ferris Statue where stu­dents can reg­is­ter to vote.

The College Democrats, Student Government and the Political Engagement Project have teamed up to spon­sor the event.

The three groups work­ing on the event want to ensure that all stu­dents are prop­erly reg­is­tered to vote and know where to go to cast their ballot.

Justin Jackson, pres­i­dent of the College Democrats, believes the eas­i­est option is for stu­dents to reg­is­ter to vote in Big Rapids.

“We want to encour­age stu­dents to reg­is­ter locally, rather than dri­ving all the way home to vote,” Jackson said.

Students reg­is­tered to vote in their home­town may also cast an absen­tee bal­lot. If stu­dents are unsure on their voter reg­is­tra­tion sta­tus, they will be able to find out that infor­ma­tion at the tent.

There will also be a booth set up in the IRC con­nec­tor next to Starbucks from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every week­day until the Oct. 4 deadline.

The can­di­dates for this year’s gov­er­nor race include the fron­trun­ners Rick Snyder ®, a ven­ture cap­i­tal­ist from Ann Arbor, and Virgil Bernero (D), the mayor of Lansing. Other impor­tant elected posi­tions, such as sec­re­tary of state, Michigan supreme court jus­tice and all 15 of Michigan’s state rep­re­sen­ta­tives, will be on the ballot.

According to Jackson, this year’s elec­tion is a great oppor­tu­nity for vot­ers to make an impact.

Among the issues Michigan vot­ers are con­cerned about, one of the biggest issues will be Michigan’s cur­rent economy.

“Both par­ties are promis­ing sig­nif­i­cant change if elected,” Jackson said.

Oct. 4 will be the 30-day dead­line to reg­is­ter if stu­dents want to vote for the gov­er­nor of Michigan.

In addi­tion to reg­is­ter­ing to vote, lad­der ball and corn toss games will be set up on the quad. There may also be sur­prise give­aways through­out the course of the day.

Justin Jackson said that the goal for this year’s voter reg­is­tra­tion effort is 1,200 stu­dents, 200 more than the last event in 2008. n