Thanks to the heavy campaigning of ISU Hockey Coach Al Murdoch, the Government of the Student Body, the Story County Auditor’s office and others, many Iowa State students are aware of the crusade to build a new community ice rink.

On March 31, all ISU students and Story County residents will have the opportunity to approve the issuing of bonds to pay for a new ice rink, which would be built west of the current facility. Murdoch and his players, as well as other involved groups, have complained that the ice arena is “the worst in the league.”

Specifically, the bond states: “Shall the city of Ames, in Story County, IA, issue its bonds in an amount not exceeding the amount of $1.7 million for the purpose of paying the cost … of constructing and equipping a recreation building consisting of a single surface ice skating facility in and for the city?”

The university has promised to donate an additional $2 million if the bond issue passes.

For students interested in voicing their opinions on the bond, time may be running out to register to vote.

Story County Auditor Judy R. Emmons said the cut-off date for voter registration is March 20 at 5 p.m. Even if someone wishes to vote in the form of an absentee ballot, he or she must register to vote before that date.

Emmons said absentee ballots must be postmarked the day before the March 31 election or brought to her office in Nevada.

To be eligible to vote, an ISU student must live in the city of Ames. If a student lives anywhere within the city limits, Emmons said, he or she is automatically considered a resident of Story County.

The student must also be a U.S. citizen, be at least 17 1/2 years old, not have been convicted of a felony, not be judged as mentally incompetent by a court of law, and most importantly, Emmons said, he or she must not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

“They have to only be registered to vote in one place,” Emmons said, adding that if a student registers in Story County and is also registered to vote at home, Story County will notify the student’s hometown to delete his or her name from its records.

Emmons said if students wish to vote in their hometown after the bond election, all they need to do is re-register in their hometown. If they do re-register, they will, of course, be taken off Story County’s records.

Emmons said if a student is registered in Story County, he or she is also able to vote in the upcoming primaries in June.

“But they cannot vote both here and home,” she said. If a student wants to re-register in Iowa, he or she needs to do so at least 10 days before the primary election in June.

“The only state that does not do this [the notification program] is North Dakota,” she said.

There are numerous ways for a student to register, Emmons said. She said at least 6,000 registration cards have been sent out by GSB.

Other organizations that have been active in handing out registration forms, include Murdoch and his hockey players and the citizen-sponsored committee Ice is Nice.

A potential voter can also register at the Ames City Hall or in Nevada at the Story County Courthouse. Voter registration forms are also available in every US West and McLeodUSA phone book and at the GSB offices.

If a voter does not vote absentee, Emmons said, Story County will send him or her an “acknowledgment card,” showing that it does consider him or her registered to the vote.

The acknowledgment card provides a list of precinct locations at which the student is registered to vote. Emmons said even if students have filled out registration forms, they should not consider themselves registered until they receive an acknowledgment card.

Emmons said anyone who fills out a form but does not receive a card should give the Story County office a call.

The auditor’s office is located in the Story County Courthouse, 900 6th St., Nevada. The phone number is (515) 382-7210.