I'm a professsor in Boston, Mass.
This past week I gave students an information sheet on how to register & how to apply for an absentee ballot, as well as using examples showing how when groups vote they get better treatment. (e.g. the $16ish/hour minimum wage in Australia where poor pepole vote, and the fact that in the U.S. homeowners vote at higher rates, so they get to deduce their mortage interest from their taxes while renters get squat.) In addition, I have mail-in Massachusetts voter reg. forms right there.
Finally, I offer a bonus 15% on their next quiz if they write one of the following 4 phrases above their name.
- I am registered to vote and will vote in November.
- I have mailed in my voter registration form and will vote in November.
- I am not a U.S. citizen, but will vote in my own country's next election.
- I am from some shitty dictatotship where people aren't allowed to vote. (And they don't have to write "shitty" if it'll get their family thrown in jail.)
Resuts below.
Over 3/4 of students pledge to vote, and out of 90 studetns, I gave out a total of 29 voter reg. forms were taken by students.
Given the demographics of who I teach, that's as least as many net votes for Democrats as I'll get canvassing random people weekly. (And yes, I do that too.)
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If you're teaching college, please do something like this, and do it soon! It barely takes any time at all, and helps students understand the importance of being engaged. Plus it's well known that folks who vote are likely to continue to do so. So it's a ridiculously high rate of return on the effort invested.