Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of five articles looking at new positions in the Government of the Student Body cabinet. Look for a new story each Tuesday.

In sync with this year’s presidential election, the Government of the Student Body cabinet will include a new position directed at increasing student education on the voting process.

Charles Goyer, junior in political science, was selected to fill the new director of student voting position last spring after GSB elections ended. Goyer said he was motivated to interview for a cabinet position because of his interest in student government, his experience last year on the Inter-Residence Hall Association and his desire to do more for the campus. Goyer said he also worked with the voting drive last year that was partly sponsored by GSB.

Up to this point, Goyer said, he has spent much of his time working with the New Voters Project, educating and drumming up student interest in the voting process.

“We’ve been working with the New Voters Project and have held events where people can come and register to vote. We’ve also helped the New Voters Project set up in-class presentations, as well as presentations in residence halls and fraternities,” he said.

Goyer said he has also handed out voter registration forms and other information to off-campus students who don’t have as much access to campus voting awareness drives.

On election days, Goyer said he will work on providing transportation for potential voters to polling places.

GSB President Sophia Magill said the position will be all-encompassing, because it will educate students who may vote in all types of upcoming elections, from university elections such as GSB, to state and national races.

Students will also be informed of the absentee ballot process and voter registration opportunities and will be given information about candidates in each race.

Magill said she foresees the director of student voting working with GSB’s election commission to advertise available GSB positions for next spring.

The new position’s role and tasks will be modified as the position is further analyzed, Goyer said, but goals are already set up for the future.

He said he will emphasize creating lines of communication between voter education organizations on campus. He said he also plans on hosting candidate forums, in which candidates for local, state and national offices would speak on campus about their stances on the issues. Magill said she expects the forums to focus on issues that concern students.

Magill said the position was one of five new cabinet positions created during a cabinet reorganization process that was aimed at addressing the needs of students.

“[We wanted] GSB to be focused on helping students achieve their goals and having them become part of the process,” Magill said.

Magill said the director of student voting position was created after GSB leaders saw the positive impact students had upon the Ames City Council election last November.

With the new cabinet position, she said, it is hoped a similar response from students will be created when numerous elections are held in the coming months.

“We want to educate them and encourage them to participate and be active citizens, not just of Iowa State, but of the community, state and nation,” Magill said.