IUSB students use Constitution Day celebration to attract new voters

Music, pocket-sized Constitutions, and plenty of enthusiasm. It’s all in honor of Constitution Day, Friday. Political science students at Indiana University South Bend are behind all of this and they also are working to sign-up new voters.

Two politically involved groups held a Constitution Day celebration on IUSB’s campus Wednesday.

“We’re registering students to vote today. We're actually getting a lot of people registered, it’s great,” said Daniel Brandt, a student involved with Political Science Club.

“It really is the launch of our American Democracy Project events for this fall elections season. So we want people to know about the county candidates, the state house candidates, the state senate candidates, and the congressional candidates,” said Dr. Elizabeth Bennion, Professor of Political Science & American Democracy Project Director IUSB.

And the focus is on the students.

“The Millennials are now the largest group of voters, but that won’t matter if they don’t vote. We want them to come to those debate watch parties we want them to get engaged and mobilize other people,” said Bennion.

While they’re using music to attract these millennials.

“The music’s jammin’, we’re lovin’ it. It’s a dance party out here and I think it is getting attention bringing people over,” said Brandt.

It’s about more than just registering to vote.

“Here with the American Democracy Project and our student volunteers with the Political Science Club, what we try to do is make sure that people stay engaged throughout the year,” said Bennion.

But music and enthusiasm are helping in the mean time.

“I’m actually really impressed with the turnout we’ve had today. A lot of students are walking by and are expressing interest and going ‘No, I haven’t been registered yet’ so I think this is a great opportunity, we’re here, we’re convenient and it just takes a couple minutes,” said Brandt.

Dr. Bennion says the group has so much more planned including a voter registration drive in the coming months, most of which is open to the public.