The University of Connecticut Undergraduate Student Government is hosting a voter registration bash Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Student Union Lawn.
USG President Venice Montanaro said this event was a collaborative effort between members of USG, the Student Union Board of Governors and the town of Mansfield.
“The goal is to register as many people as possible,” Montanaro said.
UConn students can register to vote in-state, or out-of-state if they are not from Connecticut. Students are able to register in their hometown or in the town of Mansfield, according to the secretary of state. Montanaro said that registering to vote in the town of Mansfield is a good option for students.
“They can vote in this election for this area, which is awesome because a lot of what the town of Mansfield decides affects us here,” Montanaro said.
To register to vote, students need to bring a state-issued photo ID with them.
Once students register to vote or show proof of registration, they will receive a ticket to the food trucks, Montanaro said.
SUBOG is providing food trucks for the event, Montanaro said. Lizzie’s food truck, Luanne’s Cupcakes and Get Fizzy will be there, according to the event flyer. Other organizations such as the UConn Women’s Center will also be there, Montanaro said.
“It’s just a great way to unify people before the midterm election season because it’s a big year,” Montanaro said.
USG Vice President Keira Conrad’s first role in USG as a freshman was within the external affairs committee. She said they are involved in a lot of voting activities.
“So that really got me involved in USG, which I think it’s a great purpose. Especially here on campus, reaching out to people and making sure that they feel like they’re connected to this is a huge deal,” Conrad said.
This year, Connecticut voters will be electing a governor and lieutenant governor, representative for Congress, state senator, state representative, secretary of the state, treasurer, comptroller, attorney general and registrar of voters.
Some positions, such as governor, will have a competitor for the first time in four years, according to the secretary of the state website.
USG will plan more events for students to register to vote later in the semester, Montanaro said. In November, they will also have a place for students to vote at the UConn Bookstore.
“This is a great way for freshmen also to get involved with their campus, get involved in politics a little bit,” Montanaro said.