Getting Out the Vote

Hoping to register at least 380 students, or ten percent of its student body, Penn State Altoona joined nearly 100 colleges nationwide by participating in the American Democracy Project, a multi-state, non-partisan project to register 40,000 young voters for the 2006 election year. The effort was sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), of which Penn State Altoona is a member, and coordinated by Professor Sandy Petrulionis. The 2006 election cycle was viewed as a banner year for youth voter mobilization, with registration campaigns active on more than 150 college campuses and in scores of communities reaching all fifty states.

Kicking off the college's voter registration drive was "An Election Year Issues Forum," wherein students and area residents had the opportunity to pose questions to participating candidates appearing on the November ballot. The effort continued with registration tables across campus, E-mail reminders to students, and other awareness activities and special events.