FAYETTEVILLE -- "We're asking for just one chance to make this work," said Spencer Bone, a College Republicans member at the University of Arkansas.
Students put together a news conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday, just five days before they are expected to make a presentation to Washington County election commissioners and detail why the state's largest university needs a voting center.
Meeting
University of Arkansas students will make a presentation to election commissioners during a meeting at 9 a.m. Monday at the county courthouse. Students hope to convince commissioners a early voting center on campus is needed for the upcoming general election.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
About 26,754 students enrolled this past fall, according to the university's Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Other universities in state have polling sites on campus.
The student-led proposal in Fayetteville would allow voters countywide to cast ballots on campus during the two-week period leading up to Election Day. Washington County began using voting centers allowing residents to vote at any polling location instead of by precinct last year.
Election Coordinator Jennifer Price said students are expected to give commissioners details about their plan at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse. That doesn't mean commissioners will make a decision, she said.
Price didn't attend the student news conference Wednesday.
A similar measure was brought up but turned down several years ago, students said Wednesday. Commissioners said in 2014 a polling location is already within walking distance of the campus.
A student survey shows the vast majority of students want a polling location on campus, said Connor Flocks, the Associated Student Government president. The effort has brought together several student groups and has the support of the faculty senate, which approved a joint resolution supporting a center in April.
Chancellor Joseph E. Steinmetz also sent a letter supporting a polling site at the Arkansas Union in June.
Students benefit from having polling locations on their campuses because the locations make it easier to vote, students and others said. Faculty and staff who work long hours also benefit, said Jay Barth, M.E. and Ima Graves Peace distinguished professor of politics at Hendrix College.
"Hendrix students fought hard to maintain a polling station on campus because so many students lack transportation to get to other sites," Barth said in email.
The center also could be put together with "little to no cost" to the county or city, Bone said.
A center at the university would cost up to $7,000, not including parking, said Ryann Alonso, co-director of external relations for the student association. However, a group on campus has agreed to offset costs, she said. The student association also offered to cover $1,300 for parking places for about six poll workers.
Officials at the university also plan to use the school's transit system, said Taylor Farr, chief of staff for the student government.
Alonso said students plan to recruit other students to become poll workers and to create an initiative to get more students to vote.
On Wednesday, only about 12 students turned out for the news conference, despite social media calls to gather. Many students were working internships or out of state, students at the conference said. Others took off time to come to the conference or drove for hours.
Trevor Villines, a sophomore and student association senator, attended to support the effort, he said.
"I really want this to happen for students," Villines said. "With the way things are this year, it would be good to see more students -- Republicans and Democrats -- get out and vote."
NW News on 07/21/2016