Voter Registration as a requirement

[KSUViolet06]

I'm a registered voter, and I think that's a good idea.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by 33girl


I wish NPC/NIC/NPHC would get together for a joint registration drive. I agree that it shouldn't be a requirement, since not everyone in our orgs is a US citizen.

On an international level, NPHC is working with Unity '04 Voter Empowerment Campaign. http://www.unity04.net

[adduncan]

In principle, encouraging voter registration and voting in elections (for US citizens) is a great idea. However, IMHO, it would only work if a stipulation were on the books that partisanship on any level were prohibited.

Given how strident peoples' feelings are on any political topic (take a look at GC threads from the past month) this idea could blow up if boundaries aren't set. You never know when someone of any political bent would get a wild hair and start over-promoting an agenda that could potentially split a chapter, or even an organization.

This is quite close to the discussions posted earlier about religious activities in an org. Someone once innocently posted that people in their chapter of like mind would have a Bible study. Then someone else from a different chapter (or even from a different org!) got offended even at the *concept* of people of faith expressing it publicly, merely because they disagreed with it. That's the sign of a major powderkeg.

Political feelings run just as high. As soon as someone expresses the political ideas and try to live by them in public, someone else will be o-ffen-ded and call for their censorship. Not a good way to build brotherhood or sisterhood.

All good innovations about personal ideals stay good when there are boundaries to them.

--add

[CASIGKAP]

Politics is a hot button issue. I think it's best left up to the individual to decide if the want to register or not. If a sorority wants to have a voter registration drive, that's great but I don't feel it should be mandatory to have every sister be a registered voter. It's like religion. It's not for everybody. Frankly, some people don't give a damn about politics & that's why voter turnout rates are poor. Before I get any grief, I am a registered voter myself. However, I know plenty of people, girls in my sorority included, who frankly don't care about politics & prefer not to vote. I will not try to change their minds about this b/c they are adults & can make their own decisions.

[astroAPhi]

One problem that I can see with this is how to handle international students in a collegiate chapter, or someone who is working on obtaining citizenship in an alumni chapter. Several of my sorority sisters and my boyfriends fraternity brothers are not U.S. citizens. Since the citizenship process takes so long, I don't see how you could mandate that while still allowing international members, unless they were required to register in their own country.

[33girl]

Originally posted by adduncan
In principle, encouraging voter registration and voting in elections (for US citizens) is a great idea. However, IMHO, it would only work if a stipulation were on the books that partisanship on any level were prohibited.

Given how strident peoples' feelings are on any political topic (take a look at GC threads from the past month) this idea could blow up if boundaries aren't set. You never know when someone of any political bent would get a wild hair and start over-promoting an agenda that could potentially split a chapter, or even an organization.

This is quite close to the discussions posted earlier about religious activities in an org. Someone once innocently posted that people in their chapter of like mind would have a Bible study. Then someone else from a different chapter (or even from a different org!) got offended even at the *concept* of people of faith expressing it publicly, merely because they disagreed with it. That's the sign of a major powderkeg.

Political feelings run just as high. As soon as someone expresses the political ideas and try to live by them in public, someone else will be o-ffen-ded and call for their censorship. Not a good way to build brotherhood or sisterhood.

All good innovations about personal ideals stay good when there are boundaries to them.

--add

We're talking about sitting at a table in a prominent location, asking people if they're registered and then if they're not, asking them if they'd like to be and helping them (if they need help) while they fill out an application. The words Republican or Democrat shouldn't even come out of the table-sitters' mouths.

I think a lot of people are misinterpreting what a "voter registration drive" actually is. If you have a bake sale, you don't ask everyone who bakes a pie how they feel about Greek life, would they like to be Greek, if not why not, yadda yadda yadda.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by astroAPhi
One problem that I can see with this is how to handle international students in a collegiate chapter, or someone who is working on obtaining citizenship in an alumni chapter. Several of my sorority sisters and my boyfriends fraternity brothers are not U.S. citizens. Since the citizenship process takes so long, I don't see how you could mandate that while still allowing international members, unless they were required to register in their own country.

Good point. *puts on thinking cap*

[adduncan]

Originally posted by 33girl
We're talking about sitting at a table in a prominent location, asking people if they're registered and then if they're not, asking them if they'd like to be and helping them (if they need help) while they fill out an application. The words Republican or Democrat shouldn't even come out of the table-sitters' mouths.

Oh, I understand that point completely.

I'm thinking in terms of setting policy. It's always smart to "state the obvious" so that there is no misunderstanding by future members about which words not to use. (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Independent, Socialist, Communist, etc etc etc) If you don't state the obvious about what is or is not appropriate, you **will** have people eventually trying to push an agenda. That's where the good idea takes a trip to hell in a handbasket. I'm real big on preventing that kind of thing.

--add

[pinkyphimu]

i like the idea of voter registration drives, but how do you do it on a college campus where there are students from just about every state?

as far as it being a requirement, i don't think that it would be possible. in the npc (at least), the majority of members are collegiates. there are some campus that hold recruitment before school starts or in the fall semester. i am willing to bet that there are plenty of new members who aren't even 18 yet.

the next hurddle i see is that if only one npc group or just a few made this a requirement, then they would be putting themselves at risk for reducing their membership numbers.

Senusret I

APhiA requires proof of voter registration for all applicants.

question: do members need to prove that they voted in elections throughout their membership or is this just something they need to show upon applying for membership?

[dakareng]

I wish NPC/NIC/NPHC would get together for a joint registration drive. I agree that it shouldn't be a requirement, since not everyone in our orgs is a US citizen.

YOu'll get your wish, 33girl. NPC is organizing an initiative this fall called GO VOTE 04. This is a non-partisan program that encourages voter registrations drives on campus and explains ways that individual members can be involved in the election process. Those with conventions this summer may have heard about it already otherwise you'll get information from your HQ this fall.

[Senusret I]

We do not require proof that you voted, we require proof that you are registered to vote at time of application.

[IvySpice]

I was reading the Alabama student newspaper and I saw that the Sigma Chi chapter there hosted a Republican fundraiser called "Bushapalooza." Obviously that's a lot more touchy than asking everyone to register to vote their own conscience! I wonder if any of you saw chapters aligning themselves with parties at your home campuses?

[GammaGirl1219]

I agree that voter registration shouldnt be required. However, IMHO, i dont think that there is anything wrong with helping to advocate registration amoung our age group. In fact at our convention this year they were handing out packets about a voter registration thing from nationals ( they ran out of copies before i got there, which is why i am so vague) (eta: its the GO VOTE 04 thing). Also i think that just they way our orgs work we understand the importance of voting. Thats why when someone is considered in "bad standing" they cant vote.So while someone shouldnt be required to vote, there isnt anything wrong with encouraging it. well thats my .02 for what its worth.

Kate

[adduncan]

Originally posted by IvySpice
I was reading the Alabama student newspaper and I saw that the Sigma Chi chapter there hosted a Republican fundraiser called "Bushapalooza." Obviously that's a lot more touchy than asking everyone to register to vote their own conscience! I wonder if any of you saw chapters aligning themselves with parties at your home campuses?

<minor hijak>
THIS is what I was thinking of when I posted my 2 above replies.
</minor hijak>

In answer to the question, no, not even in Boston where partisan politics is a common hobby, have I seen Greek chapters doing this.

--add

[pinkyphimu]

Originally posted by Senusret I
We do not require proof that you voted, we require proof that you are registered to vote at time of application.

thanks! i was just imagining the nightmare trying to ensure that everyone voted!