Boost in voting on campuses is goal

The University of Utah pulled in a record number of early voters last year, second only to the Salt Lake County clerk's office.

Some say the numbers could increase this year, if only online voter registration deadlines were changed and additional early voting booths made available to reflect a more "mobile society," said Andrew Jensen, executive director of the Utah Student Association.

"The young adult population has gotten a bad rap for not voting, but my gut feeling is that as far as students go, the voting percentage is just as high or even higher than the general population," he said, noting students are typically informed on political issues and turn out to vote in great numbers.

Jensen will make a pitch to the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy in Cedar City on Friday to garner additional funds for counties with large colleges and universities to put up more early voting stations on campuses where Jensen believes voter turnout will be high.

Last year, the booths served more than 7,000 voters at the U., more than 4,000 at Utah Valley University and a similar number at Utah State University. With such good voter turnout on those campuses, booths at Salt Lake Community College and Weber State University, where student, faculty and staff populations are large, could happen this year.

Overall, Utah had the second lowest voter turnout nationwide in the November 2008 general election.

New laws made online registration a recent reality, allowing officials to cross-reference signatures with those on file at the state Driver License Division. If the current student initiative sees action, online registration dates would match those of in-office voter registration, which extend to 15 days before an election.

The move would require a change to election law, which currently sets the online registration deadline the same as the mail-in deadline, 30 days before an election. Early voting typically begins two weeks before Election Day.

"I really have no sense of how it would play out," said Mark Thomas, an administrator in the lieutenant governor's office, which oversees elections. He said the idea is logical but Jensen was the first to bring it to his attention. The office is currently creating a Web site to accommodate the new voting capabilities, but overall, it's happy with the immediate response.

"There seems to be an interest in associations and groups who go out and get more people to register," he said. "And they're getting results."

Thomas was on the U. campus during early voting periods last year and recalls thinking how nice it would've been when he was a student "to be able to vote right here in the cafeteria." Early voting, he said, is not intended to get more people out but to make it more convenient.

According to surveys conducted by Brigham Young University, student voters aren't exactly tracked. Jensen would like to include a question to identify the student vote.

"Students are probably the most engaged and committed to service in their communities than any other demographic," he said. "And the excitement definitely heats up as the election gets closer."

If officials at the conference are keen to Jensen's ideas, legislation could be drafted for the 2010 Legislature.

e-mail: wleonard@desnews.com