Stony Brook Celebrates Vote Early Day, Highlighting the Power of Student Votes

Stony Brook University students gathered at the SAC Plaza on October 23 to celebrate Vote Early Day, a new civic holiday aimed at raising awareness and excitement around early voting.

The event, organized by the Center for Civic Justice(CCJ), provided students with critical information about the early voting process and voter registration, along with hot apple cider, stickers, bracelet making, and a 'vote for your favorite Halloween character duo' mock ballot station.

Joanna Dudley, a senior majoring in political science and psychology and an intern with CCJ, emphasized the importance of educating students about their voting options. "We've set up tables with voter registration, fun activities, and important resources like finding your early polling location," said Dudley. "With school and activities, some students might not be available on Election Day, so it's crucial they know about early voting. Stony Brook has a huge student population, and we are the youth of the future. It's important to develop voting habits now."

The event was an opportunity to ensure students understood the convenience of early voting. Evelyn Murphy, a first-year student and intern with CCJ, noted, "Some people think voting is a big process, but it's really just a few steps. If you vote early, you eliminate the stress of something coming up on Election Day, like a family emergency. We want students to know they can vote early and get it done on their terms."

Ashley Liegi, assistant director of the CCJ, highlighted the significance of early voting for busy students. "Many of our students are in class all day on Election Day, or they have family and work obligations which can make it challenging to make it to the polls. Early voting gives them from Saturday October 26th through Sunday November 3rd to cast their vote, making it a much more accessible option."

Vote Early Day is just one of a number of campus eventsplanned leading up to Election Day.

Early voting also helps students overcome the barriers that can often prevent them from participating in elections. Busy class schedules, jobs, or commitments to activities can sometimes interfere with getting to the polls on Election Day. Early voting eliminates these hurdles, allowing students to choose a time that works best for them to exercise their right to vote.