Starting a Focus on Political Engagement

As you know, 2008 is an election year, and the Bonner Program includes a focus on civic engagement as a Common Commitment. Bonner Congress Representative and Bonner Scholar Scott Meltzer from Centre College developed a great strategy for students and others on campus. Here is some great information and attached resources.

According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, only 40% of all youth (ages 18-29) in our country voted in the 2004 presidential election and only 25% in the 2006 midterm election. In addition, political engagement for Bonners has been low as well. As catalysts in impacting our local, state, and national communities, Bonners have the opportunity to empower our peers to exercise their political opinion. Exercising your constitutional right to vote tells society that you care are about the community you live in. If the youth in a community are educated in the following areas then political engagement will prevail:

1. Why is it important to vote?
2. How to register to vote
3. Where to vote on Election Day
4. Where the candidates stand on political and social issues
(Project Vote Smart - http://www.vote-smart.org/)

Your Bonner program can successfully educate your campus community in each of these areas. Cultivate a relationship with your local election commission and Office of the Secretary of State. These are two resources that can assist your Bonner program in bringing your campus to be an environment conducive to political discussion and action as well as a culture of political engagement.

The attachments include:

• National Voter Registration Form & Instructions — used to register a student in the state the college is located or his/her home state.
• State Voter Registration Card Instructions – You can obtain from your local election commission your state's voter registration form. These instructions can be modified for any state's voter registration form.
• Absentee Ballot Request Form and Instructions – used to request an absentee ballot from the district the student is registered to vote
• Political Participation PowerPoint presentation that includes information on how to advertise a voter drive, host a local, state, or national political debate, and be engaged politically and civically in the National Service plan.

The Bonner Foundation • 10 Mercer Street • Princeton, NJ 08540
609-924-6663 Phone • 609-683-4626 FAX • info@bonner.org