As highly educated college students on a politically active campus in an election year, there is perhaps no better time to realize our civic duty as students of UW-Madison. Badgers, it is time to vote.
Many students throughout the UW System will be voting in the first presidential election of their lifetimes. Madison is teeming with students—many of whom are first-time voters. But, thankfully, UW-Madison leadership has worked with the Madison Common Council to make voting more accessible by hosting two early voting locations on campus: Union South and the Student Activity Center. These locations will be open Oct. 24 through Nov. 4 (hours vary by site), and any eligible city of Madison voter will be able to go vote early.
These locations, especially the Student Activity Center, will make voting more accessible for students in Southeast residence halls, apartment buildings like Lucky,
And most students already have what they need to vote. Students can use a Wisconsin driver’s license, a U.S. passport and many other options. The photo ID doesn’t even need to have your campus or current address. And, for the students who don’t have a qualifying photo ID, the UW administration has made it even easier by providing free voter-compliant photo ID cards at all campus polling locations on Election Day and at the Union South Wiscard Office. But, unfortunately, those free photo IDs won’t also be available at both early voting locations.
If you’ve ever lived the life of a college student, you know how busy it can be: Classes, work, internships, student organizations, social and residence hall life and much more are filling up your days. Early voting is a practical tool for student voters who lead busy lives and still want to make their voice heard on the future of our nation.
The free photo ID must be made more accessible during early voting, not just on Election Day. Why make students who do not have a complying photo ID wait until Election Day? In an election cycle as important as this one, it is absolutely imperative that every Wisconsin student is able to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
In an e-mail to students, Dean of Students Lori Berquam said to “get informed, [and] get ready to vote.” Dean Berquam, if we’re to do so, we need your help. We implore you to allow free student photo IDs to be accessible to early voters at both campus locations.
Ari is a junior majoring in strategic communications and political science. How do you think the university should provide voter IDs to students who need them? Please send all comments,
UPDATE OCT. 7, 1:27 p.m.: An earlier version of this piece mischaracterized the availability of photo IDs. Although they are not available at both early voting locations, they are available year-round at the Union South Wiscard Office.
