On Oct.18 Pokes Vote held a candidate meet and greet at the Centennial Complex. In attendance were incumbents and challengers alike, in contention were the issues of the day, but all were in agreement about one thing; voting.
Pokes Vote is a non-partisan cooperative campaign at the University of Wyoming focused on maximizing student civic engagement and leadership development through voter education, registration, and turnout. Throughout this and prior seasons Pokes Vote has held numerous events which they hope will stoke the often dim fire of civic participation among college students. In fact, in a statement issued by Secretary of State Ed Murray, turnout amongst 18 through 24 year olds in 2014, the year of the last midterm election, sat around 10%. This fact not only rested on the mind of organizers, but on the candidates in attendance as well.
“It’s hard to imagine when you are 18, 19 or 20 years old that being engaged in the process and voting and having a voice makes a difference. It’s only as you get older that you realize that you had the power to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.” said candidate for senate Gary Trauner as he took a brief respite standing towards the back of the gallery.
“Look I tell people that I don’t care if you vote for me…” continued Trauner, “well I do care, but go vote because it’s just that important. You have collective power even if you don’t realize it, and if you don’t use it, people will make decisions for you now and far into the future.”
Art galleries, while often flirting with the elite side of the cultural coin, do not always draw elite figures. This event was particularly valuable in this vein. Framing the portraits on display were a bevy of local candidates. All of whom, while not aiming quite as high as Trauner in their candidacy, nonetheless hope to give young people a voice.
“I think that it is incredibly important that young people are represented at every level of government so that got me excited to run. I want to also ensure that everyone has the same sort of access to the economy and opportunity in Laramie.” said small business owner Brian Harrington, a candidate for the Laramie City Council for Ward 1.
When it comes to local issues, according to Mayor Andi Summerville, students on campus are all too often detached from the local community, either focusing on out of state problems or federal offices, which impedes their ability to affect policy change on a smaller scale.
“If you want a council that works with the university, students need to be engaged in local politics.” said Summerville “Once again it all comes back to voting, and let me tell you, I’m not above begging kids to vote.”
In Wyoming you can register the same day if you are voting within the county you want to vote in. Make sure when you register or vote you are 18 years of age, a US Citizen, not a convicted felon and you have not been adjudicated mentally incompetent. You just need some form of ID: Driver’s License, Student ID, Passport, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Draft Record, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certification of Naturalization.
If you’d like to learn more about the candidates Pokes Vote will be hosting a gubernatorial debate on Oct. 25th in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium, and if that doesn’t sate your desire for knowledge a simple search of insert candidate name here Wyoming, should provide you with more information.
