CHLOE KOWALYK
Special to The Leader
Getting involved in the election is as important in 2020 as ever.
Besides voting, there are plenty of ways that students can get involved.
A great place to start is with The League of Women Voters.
LWVUS has been around for 100 years since women first got the right to vote. The League aims to “encourage informed and active participation in government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influence public policy through education and advocacy.”
The president of LWVUS, Mary Croxton, said that the League is “not just for women.” Her husband, former chair of the Psychology Department and professor at SUNY Fredonia, Dr. Jack Croxton, is a member. Another great way to get in-volved is by working the polls. For the past few weeks, Chautauqua County has completed poll worker training.
Poll workers and election inspectors are in charge of ensuring that eligible voters are processed fairly and efficiently. Each of the workers must attend a paid class and are even paid $11.80.
While poll worker training is complete and Chautauqua County is no longer in need of new workers, the County is still looking for volunteers to help ensure the safety of voters. The Chautauqua County Board of Elections said, “We are still hiring for door people to control flow relating to COVID restrictions and hand out masks and for inside poll workers to sanitize.”
This is a great opportunity for those looking to gain resume-building volunteer work and to get involved in the election process. Grace Kara, a student at Fredonia, has gone through the poll worker training. She said that the people in charge of the training were “very kind and helpful.”
Kara also explained that the trainees “wouldn’t have to go in worried because new trainees are paired up to work with people who have worked at the polls before.”
Another student, Maddie West, got involved by counting ballots in her hometown. West said that the Niagara County Board of Elections “basically had me organizing and alphabetizing ballots… I had the opportunity to meet people and network which will be beneficial after school.”
“Everyone there was amazing and it was a great experience that I look forward to doing again,” she said.
Another great way students can get involved is right on campus. The American Democracy Project is always looking for new members.
The goal of the ADP, chaired by Dr. Angela McGowan-Kirsch, is to educate students on civic issues and encourage them to be well-informed voters.
They are nonpartisan and unbiased, and all students are welcome to join.
Finally, the easiest way to get involved is by voting.
West said, “It may not seem important or that one vote from some-one does not matter, but they do. We are the ones going out into the world soon to get jobs, homes, pay bills and have families. This election will dictate how those things look.” One LWVUS member, Gail Crowe, said that the “United States is a democracy — a form of government that is ‘of, by and for’ the people. It’s not something apart from the people, imposed on us from the outside.”
“When we invest time and energy into something, we care more about it… actions that keep us involved in the democratic process help us care about and appreciate our democracy and freedoms. Seeing democracy in action, first-hand, shows us how the people’s voice has consequences for all of us.”
Early voting started on Saturday, Oct. 24, and further dates and times are as follows:
Tuesday: Oct. 27, noon to 8 p.m.
Wednesday: Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: Oct. 31, noon to 5 p.m.
Sunday: Nov. 1, noon to 5 p.m.
Students can contact the ADP at ADP@fredonia.edu and follow them on Instagram @adpfred.