UF students won’t see Alachua County issues when they look at the general election ballot on Nov. 2 unless they’ve designated it as their legal place of residence.
Student Government’s External Affairs is surveying students and encouraging them to register in Alachua County by the Oct. 4 deadline, instead of submitting an absentee ballot from home.
The county’s 34,098 voters in the 18- to 25-year-old age range make it the biggest demographic, said Pam Carpenter, the Alachua County supervisor of elections.
She said she acknowledged the student presence in the community, but that she has no way of knowing how many registered voters are UF students.
“We’re pushing for students to have a bigger say on things in the place they live in for 75 percent of the year,” said Jacob Burns, executive director of External Affairs.
Party-affiliated student groups and Chomp the Vote are teaming up with Burns’ committee to increase voter turnout at precincts on and around campus and encourage a student response beyond the general elections this fall.
He said he hopes to get city and county officials to lower gasoline taxes stemming from the road beautification programs, reverse the underage drinking ordinance and keep bars open until 3 a.m. to allow customers time to find a ride.
