Iowa State’s Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and Margaret Sloss Women’s Center are co-hosting a Celebrate Voting day Friday focusing on expanding knowledge about voting rights, participation and history.

“We are part of Iowa’s initiative to celebrate voting,” said Julie Snyder-Yuly, Catt Center program coordinator. The center is named for Iowa State alumna and suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt.

The Celebrate Voting campaign was initiated by Secretary of State Chet Culver’s office and the Help America Vote Act. The initiative was designed to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, and the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

“We hope a lot of students decide to come out,” said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Catt Center.

Information pamphlets on Celebrating Voting, Carrie Chapman Catt, the history of women’s suffrage and the Catt Center will be distributed from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Individuals will be able to register to vote or change voter registration. Cake and punch will be served as an incentive to visit the displays.

Bystrom said the information will be available in front of the Sloss House as well as the Catt Center.

“If you’re not registered to vote, now is a great time,” Snyder-Yuly said. “If you are signed up, come out and participate in the activities.”

Jenny Wittmaack, junior in materials engineering, plans to attend the scheduled events.

“I think Iowa State does a good job of encouraging students to vote because we’re highly under-represented as a population,” she said. “It’s great these organizations can get students more involved and educated about voting.”

A buffet will be held in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

“We’re really hoping to get the word out about women’s right to vote,” Snyder-Yule said.

Following the luncheon will be an excerpt of a one-woman play about the life of Carrie Chapman Catt titled “The Yellow Rose of Suffrage,” written by Jane Cox, professor of music and director of ISU Theatre. Culver will introduce the play.

“The play is a great way to get people’s attention and get them to listen,” said Tim Andrews, senior in pre-business.

“It wasn’t easy for women to get the right to vote,” he said. “We need to remember that it is a privilege as well as a right to vote, and we need to take advantage of it.”

Celebrate Voting festivities took place earlier this month in Des Moines and will continue at the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa through November.

“The celebration is statewide,” Bystrom said. “During this time, several Iowa universities are having events celebrating voting and focusing on minorities, the Constitution, immigrants and women and youth voting.”