Des Moines Register
10-26-06
College political groups rally prospective voters off campus
Efforts better spent beyond typical nonvoting college age, some say
By LISA ROSSI
REGISTER AMES BUREAU
Ames, Ia. — Sierra Gedler, like many college freshmen before her, has been approached twice in recent days by activists at Iowa State University who want her to vote.
But some advocates for young voters worry that college-aged activists have begun to pull away from motivating 18-year-olds like Gedler to vote as they disperse their energies toward other voters.
"I don't think it's as efficient for us to target one specific group when we have a diverse group we might as well appeal to everyone," said Robert Kauffman, 21, president of the Iowa College Republicans.
Kauffman's group is trying to expand its efforts beyond campus, where most students belong to an age group notorious for not voting.
The last midterm election in 2002 attracted 48,811 Iowa voters ages 18 to 24, making them members of the least likely age group to vote that year, with only a 22 percent turnout.
Iowa's young Republicans group joins college-age activists in other states who have begun channeling their energies beyond young voters.
The president of the West Virginia University Young Democrats told his campus newspaper that his group's efforts were better spent trying to get already-registered, full-time residents who voted in presidential elections out at the midterm elections.
Meanwhile, other Iowa college-age groups said they hope this year's turnout matches 2004 rather than 2002.
In 2004, 58 percent of registered 18- to 24-year-olds voted, which put Iowa as the third-highest state when it came to youth voter turnout, according to U.S. Census reports.
"We're the ones who are laying the political culture foundation for the future," said Devin Hartman, 20, the ISU president of ActivUs. He said his nonpartisan group will try to register 1,500 to 2,000 people on ISU's campus to vote in 2006.
In Iowa, the College Republicans this year expanded their efforts to rally potential voters outside of campus.
Kauffman, who attends the University of Iowa, said this week members of the group visited Cedar Falls, where they first reached out to students at the University of Northern Iowa, then joined a candidate to distribute literature, and ended the day making calls.
The group is also trying to attract older students or community college enrollees to the polls.
University of Iowa political science professor Peverill Squire said student activists may be on to something in their efforts to target community college students.
"Those people aren't moving as much, maybe still living with parents," he said. "They may have a better sense of community. A student in Iowa City or Ames (who is) from somewhere else may know state politics, but local politics are foreign to them."
The College Republicans in Iowa point to growing membership at Muscatine Community College and Kirkwood Community College.
College Democrats in Iowa also note the importance of targeting these students: Although current membership is small among this group, Patrick Rynard, its president, said community colleges will be a focus after the election.
Rynard, 21, a senior at Drake University, said even though he wants to increase community college membership, he takes issue with the College Republicans, who he said have pulled back on turning out the student vote.
He said students who move a lot and use cell phones rather than land lines are best reached by their peers, who understand how to find them.
College Democrats in Iowa are passing out literature this week in support of Chet Culver, who is running for governor, that parodies a page out of Facebook, complete with lists of "friends" for each of the candidates.
Voting locations
Students can vote via absentee ballots at satellite locations before Election Day. They can also vote Nov. 7 but must make sure it is their precinct, information that is printed on their voter registration card. A special section of the secretary of state's Web page is devoted to college-student voters.
STORY COUNTY (Home of Iowa State University): Satellite locations are available Nov. 4 and 5 at Hy-Vee, 3800 W. Lincoln Way; Hy-Vee, 640 Lincoln Way; and North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave. There will also be satellite voting available Saturday at the Story County auditor's office, 900 Sixth St., Nevada. On Election Day, campus voting locations include: Frederiksen Court, Maple-Willow-Larch commons, and Union Drive Community Center - check your voter registration card to find the right polling place.
Source: County auditor's office
Reporter Lisa Rossi can be reached at (515) 232-2383 or