GVSU to offer on-campus voting services for all upcoming elections

GVSU will now offer on-campus voting for students who are residents of Allendale.

The Allendale Township Satellite Clerk’s Office will be available for voter registration and for voting via absentee ballot on-site in the Kirkhof Center for upcoming elections, on Election Day, and the weeks leading up to Election Day. 

The idea for a satellite clerk’s office began with Student Senate. 

“Student Senate brought this to fruition by passing and supporting legislation and moving it up through the correct channels to be supported by administration, faculty, and staff here at the university,” said Student Senate President Autumn Mueller. “This legislation and project were first drafted by the External Relations Committee which was led by previous vice president, Joel Pagel.”

Implementation was made possible by partnerships between The Office of Student Life and Allendale Township Clerk Jody Hansen with support from the Ottawa County Clerk’s Office, the State of Michigan Bureau of Elections and the Allendale Election Commission.

“When the opportunity to engage more with our student voters presented itself, I could not be more thrilled to collaborate and find an easier way to provide election services to our on-campus voters,” Hansen said about the collaboration.

While this new satellite office can only allow students who are residents of Allendale to vote and return absentee ballots, the office will still be able to assist other students who wish to participate in local and federal elections.

“Our satellite office will be able to help voters that are not residents of Allendale find contact information for their local clerk’s office to request absentee ballots, determine where they are to send their absentee ballots, or assist in updating their voter registration to Allendale Township if they have proper proof of residency,” said Hansen.

These efforts will help to continue the increase in student voter engagement at GVSU. According to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, 2020 saw a record high in student voter engagement with 66% of students voting, an increase from 52% for the 2016 election. Registration among college students also rose from 76% in 2016 to 83% in 2020.

Voting engagement efforts are not new to campus. Over the years there have been many different groups and events that aim to increase student voter turnout such as the Community Service Learning Center, Elect Her, the Democracy 101 series and student-led voter registration drives. 

According to Mueller, this satellite office can help students find their voice in politics.

“We aim to collaboratively empower all members of our campus community to meaningfully exercise their right to vote, regardless of political affiliation, demographic background, or identity,” said Mueller.