Several organizations, including the Government of the Student Body, are working with the YouthVote coalition to encourage students to become registered voters.

The Ames League of Women Voters, the Political Science Club, GSB and other campus groups are all helping the coalition reach its goal to increase voter turnout of people between the ages of 18 and 25.

To make voter registration more accessible, the groups are distributing materials around campus and Ames, including during Saturday’s football game against Nebraska at Jack Trice Stadium and during the Families of Ames Celebrate Ethnicities festival on Oct. 5.

“A lot of people complain about stuff like the tuition. This gives people a chance to do something,” said Mike Banasiak, GSB’s director of government relations.

He said GSB’s goal with this program is to empower students.

“We don’t want this to end after this election,” said Banasiak, junior in management information systems.

On Oct. 2, three booths will be set up on campus in the Memorial Union, west of Curtiss Hall and south of the library.

“There are a number of groups on campus to get voters registered and get them to the poles on Nov. 5 for the general election,” said Peggy Talbert, program assistant at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.

The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 5 elections is Oct. 24.

“I think students, like the rest of us, are coming to understand how important one vote can be. The last presidential election was a good example,” Talbert said.

“When you think about the fact that the population of students at ISU is equal to the population of Ames residents, it’s easy to see how students can make a difference.”

– Michaela Saunders contributed to this article