Greetings,
As you know from my earlier email, the Bio-Medical Library is participating in the University Libraries 2008 Voter Registration Drive. Reference staff will likely be called upon by student workers to answer more complex questions about voter registration and related topics, so please familiarize yourself with this information. Many questions can be answered by consulting the Minnesota Secretary of State's Election Center.
Here are a couple of additional, handy resources:
- National Mail Voter Registration Form: This form can be used to register for any state in the United States.
- United States Election Assistance Commission Voter Information Center: includes information about becoming a poll worker, polling hours by state, finding a congressional district, etc.
Below is the text of my original email, so that you can easily find it again by searching this blog.
Please contact Emily or me with questions. Thanks to all of you for helping to make this voter registration drive a success.
Martha
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Greetings,
I am very pleased to announce that the University Libraries are sponsoring a voter registration drive in partnership with MPIRG. According to the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (http://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea98/HR6.pdf), the University has an obligation to make a "good faith effort" to distribute voter registration forms to students and to facilitate the voter registration process. The University Libraries are making voter registration forms are readily available in all Twin Cities libraries.
Soft roll out of voter registration drive begins today (Wednesday, September 10). At the Bio-Medical Library, the voter registration forms are on the 2nd floor Circulation Desk. The official start of the drive is Monday, September 15. The drive ends October 14. Emily Reimer and I are the drive coordinators for the Bio-Medical Library, so please contact either of us with any questions.
The drive will be publicized via the Monday Memo, the Daily and posters posted around campus. We will post additional posters in the snap frames, post a news item on the Bio-Medical Library site, and include an item in the stall fliers. Bookmarks should soon arrive from the printer which publicize the drive.
Key procedures:
* Place completed registration forms in the box on the Circulation Desk.
* In order to be valid, registration cards must be signed and dated.
* Do not seal the forms.
* The voter registration drive must be a non-partisan effort. It is not appropriate for any staff to engage in discussion of candidates or issues with or around patrons during this registration drive.
* While the University Libraries cannot dictate staff apparel, please use your best judgment about wearing political buttons or garb to work during the drive.
* Please let me or Emily know if you notice that we are low on registration forms.
Resources for more information about the drive and the voter registration process:
* Staff Wiki page (https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/VoterRegistrationDrive2008/HomePage). See especially Instructions for Registrants (http://staff.lib.umn.edu/cdm/ersc/instructions.pdf).
* Minnesota Secretary of State Elections Center (http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=4). Many answers to questions about registering or voting in Minnesota can be found here.
* Voting in the 2008 United States Elections (http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/guides/election2008.phtml). This University Libraries public Web page includes basic information about the voter registration drive.
* Wilson Reference public Web page (http://wilson.lib.umn.edu/reference/politics/). (Note: this page is still in process and the title may change.)
o This is a fun, interactive Web page that includes all kinds of neat features, including information on political issues & candidates, lists of books & videos, news feeds and more. I encourage you to go look at the wonderful set of posters created by University students that encourage people to register and to vote. Students can also post about why they want to vote or think that voting is important.
Stay tuned for more information regarding a number of on-campus events the University Libraries are offering in conjunction with the voter registration drive. Kirsten Clark will offer workshops on Researching the 2008 Elections (http://www.lib.umn.edu/registration/index.phtml#eventidXX272). One or two more events are in the works but not yet confirmed. We will keep you posted.
Questions? Please let us know.
Martha Hardy and Emily Reimer
Posted by biomedref at September 10, 2008 02:44 PM