Student groups prepare for campus voters

Voter turnout among college students has been notoriously low in prior elections. \nTo counter this trend, members of both the College Democrats and College Republicans want to make sure students have fewer excuses for not voting this Election Day. \nBoth groups will spend Tuesday pushing students to get to the polls. That means missing class in order to give students rides to election polls, handing out information and calling students to remind them to vote.\nCollege Republicans are organizing rides to the polls from all Greek houses.\n"We will have two limos running from the Greek Houses to polling places from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.," said Rebecca Homkes, political director for College Republicans. "We want to get people to the polls any way we can."\nMembers of College Democrats will also be offering rides. They will be stationed at the Bloomington Democratic Headquarters on the corner of Walnut and 11th streets. \nCollege Democrats said they plan to call registered democratic voters to remind them to vote and answer any questions they might have. \n"We will be doing 'get out the vote' efforts to remind people to vote and also answer questions," said April Gonzales, political vice president for College Democrats. \nHomkes said her group will also be working with the local Republican party on their 'get out the vote' efforts. \nIndiana Public Interest Research Group chalked sidewalks on campus Monday night to direct students to polling locations, said junior Christine McGinley of INPIRG. They also plan on handing out fliers to students, encouraging them to vote in remembrance of Paul Wellstone, a U.S. senator who recently passed away.\nIU Student Association, whose project 'Vote Hard' has promised to educate voters, did not announce any specific plans for Election Day. But IU Student Body president Bill Gray did stress the importance of voting. \n"Tomorrow is a very important day in determining who will be leading the nation and states governments," Gray said. "We sincerely hope and expect many students to go out and vote in whatever way they choose to exercise their democratic rights." \nStudents are encouraged to contact both the College Republicans (336-5580) and the College Democrats (336-5875) for rides to the polls.