Towson is the first Maryland institution to partner with TurboVote, a non-profit platform to register to vote.
TurboVote is an online outlet to request an absentee ballot, register, send forms and act as a source of information and reminders during the election process. The service is available to Towson students, faculty and staff and should be used before Sept. 27 as a means to register.
Before Towson signed up with the service, in order to register, it was necessary to physically go to the Civic Engagement Office, Interim Coordinator for Civic Engagement Angie Hong said. Now, it is easier through the online platform and more people are registering.
“I think it’s good that [Towson] is encouraging students to vote,” sophomore Ben Price said.
Because of the partnership, more students will take advantage of it, senior Tyone Pompey said. He likes the fact that it’s quick and easy.
“When I registered it was a whole long process,” he said.
At Towson, there are 453 total users, 305 people registered to vote and 283 requested ballots, Hong said. Within 24 hours after an email with information about TurboVote was sent to the Towson community from President Loeschke, 138 new users signed up.
“While many of your generation may be disillusioned with the democratic process, it is through this process that the policies affecting the future of our country will be determined for the coming years,” Loeschke said in the email. “I urge you to become an active citizen by exercising your right to vote and hope that you will take advantage of TowsonU’s TurboVote.”
The Office of Civic Engagement is hoping that more students will register to vote and be more involved thanks to the new service, Hong said.
The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 requires Towson to make an effort to distribute voter registration forms to each student.
“I think it’s going to have a positive impact on our campus,” Hong said.