Major political parties visited Eastern Connecticut State University from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 to engage with students during the university's weeklong “Voting Matters” initiative. Representatives from the Democratic, Republican and Green parties gathered on campus to promote political involvement and voter turnout ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

This election cycle will likely be the first for many college students and members of Generation Z. “The youth is the future of politics," said Rebecca, a volunteer for the Democratic Party. She stressed the importance of this new demographic. “It’s important to be politically involved at a young age.” Rebecca also expressed the importance of voting in local elections, as they affect the everyday lives of voters.

Throughout the week, Eastern hosted a variety of events for “Voting Matters,” including an expert panel with esteemed political science professors and numerous open lectures concerning politics and civic involvement.

The centerpiece of Voting Matters was "Events Under Tents," a symposium of election activity including a voter registration table and representatives from political parties.

“If you’re an out-of-state college student, you can still register to vote on campus,” said Felishka Ramirez, a student volunteer at the voting booth. She explained that those who would like to register or update their voting information should first visit MyVote.CT.gov to review their current voter information, then follow the directions online to register.

In attendance was Chris Reddy, the Republican nominee for the state Senate’s 29th district. At the state level, the GOP plans to enact policy to lower utility costs, including electricity, oil and gas, according to Jonathan Lukasiewicz, political director for the Connecticut Republicans. “Everything is unaffordable, especially for young people,” he said. “It’s important that young people vote. It’s our future.”

Jennifer Croughwell, president of the Eastern Democrats, outlined her party’s support for affordable housing, childcare and better funding at state universities such as Eastern. “It’s not just Harris versus Trump,” said Croughwell. “Think about the local races. In some ways they are more important than the presidential race.” She also highlighted plans to increase homeownership among young adults.

Jean de Smet, who served as a town council member for Willimantic, represented the Green Party of Connecticut at the event. “Our party’s slogan is ‘People, Peace and Planet,’” she said. At the state level, the Green Party supports policies such as universal healthcare and numerous environmental initiatives, including the transition to renewable energy sources.

Eastern’s “Voting Matters” initiative will continue to hold more voter engagement events throughout October and into November. A recent event included an art show related to voting, now on display in the Fine Arts Instructional Center. Organizers hope to sustain the momentum and encourage student participation as Election Day approaches.

for more information on upcoming events and how to vote, visit the Voting Matters website.