- Encourage faculty and staff members to discuss incorporate the importance of voting at least once during the semester
- Incentivize students to register and vote by offering extra credit points
- Send out email reminders to students before registration periods end and when early voting begins
- Reiterate via email, Twitter, or mobile alert where students can vote on and before Election Day
- Invite engaging speakers and guests to come to campus to generate enthusiasm about voting and elections
- Include voter registration tables at orientation and the First-Look Fair as well as at Debate Watch Parties
- Urge students to use the Toolkit as a resource via Canvas, social media, mobile alert, and email
Sunday, December 4, 2016
A Message to the University
Borrowing suggestions and input from other universities, our group is working round-the-clock in tandem with faculty and administrators to tackle the following measures by the next election cycle:
A Message from Katherine Swanson
Hello, Terps!
My name is Katherine Swanson, and I've had the honor of serving as president of the University of Maryland Student Government Association from 2016-2017.
I created the Terp Vote Coalition hoping that student groups could channel their energies into one of the most important civic callings that exists. Working together to mobilize our members, the Coalition registered more than 4,800 students on campus to vote. On Election Day 2016, nearly 2,450 students voted on campus.
Both numbers I think could be improved upon, but I'm proud of them.
Our hope is to coalesce with even more student groups and organizations in the future and help them plan, fund, and execute different mobilization tactics to mobilize as many Terps as possible. We are open to any and all suggestions you might have as well.
Please feel free to write us at TVCUMD@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
-KS
My name is Katherine Swanson, and I've had the honor of serving as president of the University of Maryland Student Government Association from 2016-2017.
I created the Terp Vote Coalition hoping that student groups could channel their energies into one of the most important civic callings that exists. Working together to mobilize our members, the Coalition registered more than 4,800 students on campus to vote. On Election Day 2016, nearly 2,450 students voted on campus.
Both numbers I think could be improved upon, but I'm proud of them.
Our hope is to coalesce with even more student groups and organizations in the future and help them plan, fund, and execute different mobilization tactics to mobilize as many Terps as possible. We are open to any and all suggestions you might have as well.
Please feel free to write us at TVCUMD@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
-KS
Monday, November 21, 2016
Welcome!
Thanks for visiting the Terp Voter Toolkit, your guide to all things voting and election-related during your time at the University of Maryland.
To help you navigate the process of casting your ballot in November, we've provided you with the tools you'll need to register, learn, and make an informed decision. Our hope is that you'll share this Toolkit with your fellow Terps so that they too can build a foundation for voting that lasts the rest of their lives.
This site is broken down into three sections: registration, education, and mobilization. We recognize that every student may come from a different political background and experience level, so feel free to explore any or all of the different pages here. And feel free to contact your Terps Vote Coalition representatives should you encounter any confusion or obstacles along the way.
Good luck, and happy voting!
--The Terps Vote Coalition
Primary Elections -- Should You Vote?
Starting in the February before the presidential election, state by state, voters select delegates who will nominate a candidate to run for office. Each state conducts the delegate-selecting process in a different manner.
The most common modes of selecting delegates are primary elections, in which voters choose their candidate in secret.
Primaries can be open, semi-open, closed, or semi-closed.
In caucuses, the voting may not be done in secret, voters oftentimes asked to raise their hands or assemble with likeminded citizens in groups instead.
Another key difference between primaries and caucuses is that primaries are run by the state government, and caucuses are run by the state parties.
The primary elections are just as much a part of the process of electing a new president as the general election. When you vote in the primary, you are picking an elector who is bound to vote for a certain candidate when they attend your party's nomination convention.
Prior to the election, we suggest you look into what the rules are for your home district. For example, if you're a registered Independent from Florida who currently lives in the state of Maryland, you may want to consider requesting an absentee ballot. Elections in Florida are generally characterized by slim margins, while Maryland historically swings toward Democrats.
The most common modes of selecting delegates are primary elections, in which voters choose their candidate in secret.
Primaries can be open, semi-open, closed, or semi-closed.
- In open primaries, all eligible voters can cast ballots, regardless of their party affiliation.
- In closed primaries, only members of an affiliated party can cast ballots for said party. For example, in the state of Maryland, only Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary, and only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. Independent voters cannot participate.
- In semi-closed primaries, political parties can choose whether or not Independent voters or voters from other parties can participate before an election cycle.
In caucuses, the voting may not be done in secret, voters oftentimes asked to raise their hands or assemble with likeminded citizens in groups instead.
Another key difference between primaries and caucuses is that primaries are run by the state government, and caucuses are run by the state parties.
The primary elections are just as much a part of the process of electing a new president as the general election. When you vote in the primary, you are picking an elector who is bound to vote for a certain candidate when they attend your party's nomination convention.
Prior to the election, we suggest you look into what the rules are for your home district. For example, if you're a registered Independent from Florida who currently lives in the state of Maryland, you may want to consider requesting an absentee ballot. Elections in Florida are generally characterized by slim margins, while Maryland historically swings toward Democrats.
Primary Elections -- Should You Vote?
Primary elections, technically, are unrelated from the actual presidential election. Rather, they serve political parties' mission in nominating a candidate to run for office who best represents their political party.
Some state's also call their primary elections caucuses. The difference is that primaries are run by the state government, and caucuses are run by the state parties.
Only members of political parties can vote in their primary elections, so if you register as a Republican or Democrat, the primary elections are just as much a part of the process of electing a new president as the general election is. When you vote in the primary, you are picking an elector who is bound to vote for a certain candidate when they attend your party's nomination convention.
Some state's also call their primary elections caucuses. The difference is that primaries are run by the state government, and caucuses are run by the state parties.
Only members of political parties can vote in their primary elections, so if you register as a Republican or Democrat, the primary elections are just as much a part of the process of electing a new president as the general election is. When you vote in the primary, you are picking an elector who is bound to vote for a certain candidate when they attend your party's nomination convention.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Mobilization Tactics
So perhaps you've registered. And maybe you've done your homework, learned about the candidates and the issues, or found a particular cause or issue you care about. Now it's time to get excited and keep your enthusiasm sustained from now until Election Day.
Here are some suggestions for getting involved with this University's political community:
Attend rallies, panel discussions, and opportunities to hear from all the speakers you can. The University of Maryland is not only a reputable research institution with excellent internal faculty and staff but also within 20 minutes of the nation's political hub, Washington, DC. In the past, candidates like Green Party's Jill Stein and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen made campaign stops at the University. Others like President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have held rallies not too far from campus. Take advantage of this location and the benefits that accompany it!
Go to Debate Watch Parties. Every year, hundreds gather in Stamp's Hoff Theater to watch the debates with friends. Bring popcorn and your friends!
Host or organize voter registration blitzes within your friend group or student organization. When done properly, registering to vote takes just a couple of minutes. Some fraternities and sororities on campus made it a community service requirement for their members to at least register. Ask your student groups if they would consider doing the same.
Here are some suggestions for getting involved with this University's political community:
Attend rallies, panel discussions, and opportunities to hear from all the speakers you can. The University of Maryland is not only a reputable research institution with excellent internal faculty and staff but also within 20 minutes of the nation's political hub, Washington, DC. In the past, candidates like Green Party's Jill Stein and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen made campaign stops at the University. Others like President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have held rallies not too far from campus. Take advantage of this location and the benefits that accompany it!
Go to Debate Watch Parties. Every year, hundreds gather in Stamp's Hoff Theater to watch the debates with friends. Bring popcorn and your friends!
Host or organize voter registration blitzes within your friend group or student organization. When done properly, registering to vote takes just a couple of minutes. Some fraternities and sororities on campus made it a community service requirement for their members to at least register. Ask your student groups if they would consider doing the same.
Information Gaps in the Digital Age
Sites like Facebook and Twitter have received criticism since the election for their role in disseminating "fake news" stories without verification and without posting disclaimers. Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged the problem and claimed that he and other developers are "working on it."
We surveyed a random sample of undergraduate students at the University of Maryland and asked them where they looked to get their news. Here's what we found:
We surveyed a random sample of undergraduate students at the University of Maryland and asked them where they looked to get their news. Here's what we found:
As you can see, almost 80 percent of respondents cited Facebook as a news source. Without any way to verify accuracy and considering Facebook's advanced algorithm that orders what a user sees in order of its pre-determined "relevance" to their past views, we deem this is as quite concerning.
Here are a few free, easy-to-navigate verifiable websites that can better suit your news-gathering needs. They are also available on mobile devices:
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