Samantha Cutler

Register to vote flyers were scattered throughout RM halls in order to provide students with information on how to register.

With the election approaching, RM’s SGA is working hard to ensure eligible students are registered to vote by hosting informational events, providing guidance on the registration process, and collaborating with local organizations like the Montgomery County Board of Elections and Rock the Vote for resources. They also offer registration forms through classroom presentations and online portals to make the process more accessible.

“Yeah, I think [accessibility] is a valid concern. There’s definitely more factors… like the language barrier and the technology barrier that prevents people from voting,” SGA member Chelsea Xu said. As a part of the Student Leadership class at RM, Xu recognizes the many barriers that can prevent community members, especially students, from voting. “We can use voting as a way of civic action and duty to be represented on the policies and the leaders we want to elect for the future of our country, Xu said.”

SGA has collaborated with local organizations, including New Voters, which is a nonprofit youth organization that engages high school students across the country in nonpartisan voter registration drives, youth research, and coalition building to ensure that students, particularly those unfamiliar with the process, have the support they need to register and understand the importance of their vote.

Students who will turn 18 by the next election, on Nov. 5, are eligible to register and cast their vote. “For students, high school students and Gen Z, we can use voting as a way [to take] care of personal and social issues that matter the most to us,” Xu said. “I believe voting is something everyone has a right to do… It’s become a really essential process to our government.”

They’ve also provided resources through classroom presentations and online portals, making it easier for students to access voter registration forms and get answers to their questions. “I think accessibility is definitely super huge. When you have a table with QR codes that people can scan, and it gives them directions to that. That makes it really easy and accessible,” Xu said. “The greater and larger movement of young voters across the country… is really relevant, especially during this time.”

Beyond the logistics, one of the most significant parts of the SGA’s voter registration drive is highlighting the importance of voting itself. “I think it’s really important that we get out and we vote to express our opinions, because they do affect us, and policies affect everyone… Once you turn 18, you should start voting to change [and] affect those policies, said senior SGA member Anya Schulz.

Local organizations like the Montgomery County Board of Elections and Rock the Vote have also been instrumental in providing resources for students to register both online and in person. They host workshops and informational sessions in schools to educate students about the voting process, eligibility requirements, and how to register. Additionally, both organizations offer online tools that simplify the registration process, ensuring that young voters can easily access the information they need to participate in elections.

“It’s the responsibility of the voter to educate themselves on these issues and what really speaks to them. Everyone has a different thing that they are passionate about, and it’s about making sure you figure out who is going to represent your views,” Schulz said. “It is really important that you vote, because it does affect you. It affects everything that you’re doing.”