September 15, 2020

Law school students coordinating voter drive beginning Saturday

CARBONDALE, Ill. — SIU School of Law students are coordinating a four-day voter registration drive in Carbondale this week as part of a national effort to register eligible voters ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. 

The “All Salukis Vote” effort by the law school’s student chapter of the National Lawyers’ Guild is part of National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 22.  Law school students will hold their registration drive beginning Saturday, Sept. 19 through Sept. 22 at the Carbondale Civic Center and Schnucks. 

“Although a quarter of Americans eligible to vote are not registered, many who are registered choose to not exercise their right to vote. Voting is the essence of our democracy. It is important of each of us to register and have a plan to vote this election season,” SIU School of Law Dean Camille M. Davidson said. “Whether it is by absentee ballot, early voting, or Election Day —educate yourself about the candidates who align with your values and vote the entire ballot — from president to local and state offices and judges.” 

Second-year law school students Dan Asonye and Andrew Jarmer are coordinating the registration drive. Asonye views 2020 as “the most consequential election in a generation.” 

“When the chips are down, we committed ourselves to making sure all voices are heard,” he said. 

Jarmer noted that voting is “one of the most basic and fundamental rights” for each citizen in the United States. 

“We wanted to do our part in order to be able to ensure that each eligible voter is able to exercise that right,” he said. “Regardless of where on the political ideology spectrum a person falls, it is crucial to our democratic system of governance that each eligible voter be able to exercise their right to be heard at the ballot box.” 

Students will be able to assist those wishing to register to vote who live outside of Jackson County, Asonye said. 

Voter registration dates, times and locations are: 

  • Sept. 19 – 10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Ave., (east side of the building).
  • Sept. 19 – 10 a.m. -6 p.m. – Schnucks, 915 W. Main St., Carbondale.
  • Sept. 20 – noon-6 p.m. -- Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Ave., (east side of the building).
  • Sept. 20 – noon-6 p.m. – Schnucks, 915 W. Main St., Carbondale.
  • Sept. 21 – noon-6 p.m. -- Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Ave., (east side of the building).
  • Sept. 21 – noon-6 p.m. – Schnucks, 915 W. Main St., Carbondale.
  • Sept. 22 – noon-6 p.m. -- Carbondale Civic Center, 200 S. Illinois Ave., (east side of the building).
  • Sept. 22 – noon-6 p.m. – Schnucks, 915 W. Main St., Carbondale. 

Additional information on National Voter Registration Day is available at www.NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org.