Election ready: Campus voting hubs designed to engage student voters

With the presidential general election a day away, three Washington State University campuses have set up student voting hubs to help with last-minute voter registrations, printing of ballots, and answer any lingering questions students may have about the voting process.

"We want students to vote, and we are ready to do what we can to make sure they have the resources to do it," said Ben Calabretta, director for the Center for Civic Engagement. "Even if they haven't registered to vote yet it is not too late, and we can walk them through the process at the voting hub, even on election day."

Calabretta has partnered with the Compton Union Building (CUB) to secure space and map out traffic flow in the Senior Ballroom. He is also working with Administrative Services Information Systems (ASIS) to set up computers and printers in the hub, and the Whitman County Auditor's Office and League of Women's Voters to have personnel on hand to assist voters.

Student volunteers also play a big role at the voting hub as the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU), and even some political science majors have asked to be involved.

Everyone can utilize the hubs - students, faculty, staff, and community members. Here is when and where you can find them.

A mix of excitement and nervousness

Student engagement for this election has been high on the WSU Tri-Cities campus according to Zoe Pfeifer, the ASWSU Tri-Cities director of Legislative Affairs. She has been working feverishly since the school year began to educate students about the importance of voting.

"For many students this is their first time voting in an election," Pfeifer said. "They are feeling both excited and nervous."

Some of the nervousness stems from students feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information circulating about the election.

"Students are often intimidated by the wealth of information included in the voter's pamphlet," Pfiefer said. "We have created one-pagers that will be available at our hub that will help make the key issues less daunting."

TR Rozhkova, internal director of legislative affairs for ASWSU Vancouver, said the two recent arson incidents that destroyed hundreds of ballots inside drop boxes in the Vancouver area have left some people shaken and questioning if their voices will be heard in this election.

"There is an increase in anxiety now due to the uncertainty with the democratic process," Rozhkova said. "In our hub, we will ensure that students and community members will have an opportunity to use their citizenship right to vote and engage in the electoral process."

Making voting accessible, convenient

Calabretta said any effort to make voting in general less daunting for students is important and it is the reason the voting hubs exist. The non-partisan hubs are planned in response to state legislation that passed in 2020, calling for campuses to make voting information accessible to students.

There are only two voting centers in Whitman County - the hub in the CUB and one in Colfax, which can be difficult to access for students who do not have cars. Calabretta said all of WSU's hubs are within easy traveling distance for most students, and he encourages them to grab their friends and drop by in between classes.

"They often have a celebratory atmosphere where you can sense the energy from the people around you and feel like you are contributing to a bigger effort," Calabretta said. "It's a fun and rewarding experience that people who vote by mail typically miss out on."

WSU has been named a Voter Friendly campus three times by the Campus Vote Project and NASPA, a national organization for student affairs professionals, for its efforts to educate students and make voting more accessible. It most recently received the honor in 2023 and includes the 2024 academic year.

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