2008 Woodie Awards
Women rally to raise vote
Missy Greene
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: News
With a female on the ballot for vice president and another having led a strong campaign in the presidential primaries, voting organizations are trying to stress the importance of women voting.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, Northeastern Missouri National Organization for Women and the Women's Resource Center are holding a rally centered on the importance of the female vote. From 2 to 3 p.m. at Brashear Park in Kirksville, Why Women Must Vote will offer voter registration and feature speeches with a mixture of political viewpoints, from the Missouri Obama Coalition to KTVO's Dana Jay.
The speakers will address specific issues in the election, but the main goal is to express how important it is for women to vote.
"We've had the right to vote for a hundred years, but women still vote less than men," said junior Sarah Ehrhard, a speaker at the rally. "It determines the next four years, so it's important now to get people rallied."
The function also will offer a chance for women to register to vote or to switch to the surrounding district. Ehrhard said she thinks transferring to Kirksville's district will help increase voter turnout.
"There will be a focus on college students and switching their vote to their current residence," Ehrhard said. "The whole idea is to get more people to vote."
Truman students are not the only women that Why Women Must Vote is targeting. By having the rally off campus, Ehrhard said she thinks more women from the community will feel encouraged to come.
Northeastern Missouri NOW is participating in the event and might attract more females from Kirksville's community. Speakers from other organizations based in Kirksville also will work to bring in women who want to express their views.
Issues pertaining to a female vice president also are expected to spark voting interest. The campus was buzzing last year as the primaries began and a female candidate became a prospect. Senior Lorrie Riley, who is speaking at the rally on the behalf of the League of Women Voters on Saturday, thinks a female presence will warrant more female votes.
"Last year [the campus] got heated and really excited with a woman in the running," Riley said. "People are really passionate when they can relate."
With the rally coming up, organizations are working hard to get the word out, and with the election less than two months away, the effort to encourage female voters is escalating. Sophomore Jaime Kelley said she plans to attend the rally to support the woman vote.
"It will influence people to consider things," Kelley said. "It will definitely express to people why it's important to vote so more people will."
On Saturday, Sept. 27, Northeastern Missouri National Organization for Women and the Women's Resource Center are holding a rally centered on the importance of the female vote. From 2 to 3 p.m. at Brashear Park in Kirksville, Why Women Must Vote will offer voter registration and feature speeches with a mixture of political viewpoints, from the Missouri Obama Coalition to KTVO's Dana Jay.
The speakers will address specific issues in the election, but the main goal is to express how important it is for women to vote.
"We've had the right to vote for a hundred years, but women still vote less than men," said junior Sarah Ehrhard, a speaker at the rally. "It determines the next four years, so it's important now to get people rallied."
The function also will offer a chance for women to register to vote or to switch to the surrounding district. Ehrhard said she thinks transferring to Kirksville's district will help increase voter turnout.
"There will be a focus on college students and switching their vote to their current residence," Ehrhard said. "The whole idea is to get more people to vote."
Truman students are not the only women that Why Women Must Vote is targeting. By having the rally off campus, Ehrhard said she thinks more women from the community will feel encouraged to come.
Northeastern Missouri NOW is participating in the event and might attract more females from Kirksville's community. Speakers from other organizations based in Kirksville also will work to bring in women who want to express their views.
Issues pertaining to a female vice president also are expected to spark voting interest. The campus was buzzing last year as the primaries began and a female candidate became a prospect. Senior Lorrie Riley, who is speaking at the rally on the behalf of the League of Women Voters on Saturday, thinks a female presence will warrant more female votes.
"Last year [the campus] got heated and really excited with a woman in the running," Riley said. "People are really passionate when they can relate."
With the rally coming up, organizations are working hard to get the word out, and with the election less than two months away, the effort to encourage female voters is escalating. Sophomore Jaime Kelley said she plans to attend the rally to support the woman vote.
"It will influence people to consider things," Kelley said. "It will definitely express to people why it's important to vote so more people will."
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