This fall, PHENND will be joining several other organizations in co-sponsoring the Urban Voters Campaign for the second year in a row. Spearheaded by the Institute for the Study of Civic Values, the Urban Voters Campaign is designed to increase voter turnout in and around Philadelphia in this very important election year. I am writing you to encourage your campus to participate in the following ways:

 
1)            Sponsor a Voter Registration Drive on your campus. Despite increasing participation in volunteering, voting among young people is still on the decline. Encourage the leaders of political and social service organizations on your campus to incorporate voter registration opportunities at major student functions, such as freshman orientation, activities fairs, and athletic events.

For information and resources to help you with a Registration Drive, contact George Kando of the Greater Philadelphia Student Association and Director of the Philly for President Campaign.

Download materials on Absentee Voting

Important info about student voter registration

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/lib/voting/guide/student_voting_guide.pdf

2)            Hold a Voter Education event on your campus. Encourage political leaders on campus to invite a campaign representative to speak on your campus; motivate professors in political science, international relations, sociology, or any other related departments, to hold a panel discussion on their views of the presidential candidates. If your campus has a debate society, offer to sponsor a public debate on one of the more controversial issues in this year’s election.

Download PHENND's new workshop guide "Why Should I Vote?"

whyvote2004.doc (Word 2002 | 240K)
Note: This is a comprehensive overview of voting history, current voting practices, reasons to vote, and how to vote in Pennsylvania.  It is desinged as a 2-hour workshop but may take longer depending on the audience.  Please feel free to customize and modify to your particular tastes and setting.  This workshop is also untested - so if you use it please let us know so we can improve the workshop for future use.

 
3)            Recruit students to act as “Urban Voter Volunteers.” The premise of the Urban Voters Campaign is that if someone is reminded to vote, they will. Anyone, including college students, can pledge to remind their neighbors, friends, fraternity, residence hall, etc., to vote on Election Day. The Urban Voters Campaign will supply reminder postcards and tips for being an Urban Voter Volunteer.  Please see the enclosed flyer for more information.

 
4)            Attend the Urban Voters Campaign Kick-Off! The Urban Voters Campaign will hold its kick-off event, Friday, September 10, 2004 at the National Constitution Center.  The overall theme will be how the national budget affects Philadelphia neighborhoods.  Details are still being finalized, but stay tuned for more info via the PHENND Update.

 
5)            Recruit students to volunteer to register others to vote. Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) has a campaign to register all eligible Philadelphia public high school students. Project H.O.M.E.’s Election 2004: Vote for Homes! Campaign will be registering homeless and low-income individuals.  ACORN is active in registering individuals in low-income neighborhoods.  Also, consider possible ways to get involved on election day; encourage students to offer child supervision at local polling places, making it easier for parents to vote.

PCCY: Deb Zubow, 215-563-5848 or dzubow@pccy.org
Project H.O.M.E.: Jennine Miller, 215-232-7272 or jenninemiller@projecthome.org
ACORN: 215-765-0042

 
6)            Help run a mock election at a local school. Last year, the Urban Voter Campaign launched it’s newest initiative, a Kids Vote Mock Election.  Operating in several schools, volunteers ran mock elections in elementary and middle school classrooms to engage students in the election.  This year, more volunteers will be needed on Election Day to help run the “elections.” (Students who vote via Absentee Ballot are ideal for this effort since they won’t have to worry about going to the polls themselves that day.)

 If you would like to participate in the Urban Voters Campaign, please call me at 215-573-2379.  We can provide basic information to get you started, as well as key materials such as Voter Registration Forms (in English and Spanish) and Urban Voters Campaign postcards and posters, as well as connect you with various local organizations interested in voter registration and voter education.