News and Events

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Wednesday, Sepember 5, 2012

To EMU students: The following is a message from R. Matthew Norfleet, Student Body President at Eastern Michigan University:

Fellow Eagles,

I am proud to announce that the Eastern Michigan University Student Government has partnered with the University to implement TurboVote, an innovative online platform that allows EMU students to quickly and efficiently register to vote or request an absentee ballot from their local election authorities at emich.turbovote.org/

Finding unique mechanisms to boost voter participation and increase civic engagement among the student body is a chief priority of EMU Student Government. This platform is particularly useful, as it offers students an opportunity to connect to our democratic process in a manner that is both non-partisan and accessible.

Once users sign up at emich.turbovote.org, the student will receive a completed national voter registration or absentee ballot request form by mail along with a pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope to his or her local election authority. TurboVote also sends out email and text reminders to users about approaching election deadlines.

Voter participation in the August 7, 2012 primary was a paltry 16 percent for Washtenaw County. With such an important and historic national election right around the corner, I urge you to expand your access to the polls by signing up at emich.turbovote.org With TurboVote, you now have the ability to ensure that your voice is consistently heard with ease and simplicity!

Also, you can stop by one of the Student Government voter registration tables, where we will be registering students to vote and/or signing them up for TurboVote. The tables will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, and will be located at the bus stops outside of the First-Year Center residence halls and on the circle drive in front of the Student Center during the annual Meijer Mania event.

Student Government will be giving away a limited edition Student Government flash drive (preloaded with our Student Government priorities for the year), or a Student Government T-shirt to the first 500 students who sign up. If you’re already registered to vote, you’ll be able to get your flash drive or t-shirt by simply signing up for text or email alerts. Be on the lookout for no less than a dozen TurboVote registration drives between Thursday, Sept. 6, and Homecoming, on Oct. 6.

A special thank you to the good folks over at Turbovote, along with EMU President Susan Martin, EMU Executive Director of Government and Community Relations Leigh Greden, the Student Government staff, Ypsilanti City Clerk Frances McMullen and everyone else that has helped make voter registration for Eastern Michigan University students as easy as renting a Netflix DVD!

For more information, contact Student Government, at student.government@emich.edu or at 734-487-1470.

Yours Truly,

R. Matthew Norfleet
Student Body President
Eastern Michigan University
I HAVE A VOICE

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EMU Student Government is part of EMU Student Services, 342 EMU Student Center, 734.487.1470