Affiliated with the national "Rock the Vote" campaign, Voice efforts have already netted 3,200 newly registered student voters. In an era of diminishing student activism and political interest, it is an impressive accomplishment. Voice will sponsor a number of special events next week - including a speech by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and a Diag appearance by the MTV "Choose or Lose" bus - and the tally is sure to grow.
Voice's success may lie in the fact that it does not advocate any political philosophy - it exists only to register students. Before, eligible students might have shied away from biased recruiters. Now, they are simply presented with a form to fill out, and allowed to safely retain whatever political beliefs they may hold.
Regardless of the approach, registering student voters is important. The young (under-25) vote has declined in nearly every major election since 18-year-olds obtained the right to vote. And yet, the student vote is very important to presidential and congressional elections - students are a large segment of the electorate. By providing access to registration - a crucial first step in the political process - Voice is performing a necessary service to allow the youth voice to be heard. As a result, its work is not only relevant to the current election, but also to the future of the nation.
However, the benefits of Voice's efforts do not end at the national level. By registering students to vote in Ann Arbor, the group gives students a chance to influence their lives in the city. Besides voting for Bill Clinton or Bob Dole - or neither - in November, students also can cast ballots for the local state representatives. Even closer to home, students can vote for candidates to the Board of Regents, the body ultimately responsible for running the University. Once registered, students remain eligible to vote in other elections, including City Council elections, which directly affect students' lives.
Due to the relevance of local elections to the University community, students currently registered in their hometowns should consider re-registering to vote in Ann Arbor. They live most of the year in Ann Arbor, and this will allow them to exercise elective muscle in the city where local politics will affect them.
Moreover, registering to vote by absentee ballot is often an added hassle that many students avoid. Voting in Ann Arbor would ease the voting process, thereby encouraging participation.
Voter registration remains one of the most critical and overlooked aspects of the political scene. As the Oct. 5 registration deadline approaches, students should take advantage of the simple registration procedure that Voice offers. As the MTV saying reminds us, either "Choose or Lose." It's that simple.