The votes we make, change our community. It’s how we gain the
attention of politicians. “Together we make a stand and a difference,”
said Paul de la Peña.
Vote EPCC was started at the beginning of the fall 2006 semester and
is dedicated to encouraging people to vote.
“Vote EPCC is a non-partisan collaboration of Student Government
Association and diverse coalition with faculty leadership such as
with Student Leadership and Campus Life; all community organizations,”
said De la Peña.
U.S. citizens, 17 years 10 months (18 years of age by Nov. 7 elections)
can register to vote. Citizens who are regular voters can be deputized
in Texas.
“This allows people to be able to register citizens and empowers
students to go into his/her circle of family and regular people to
vote. It gives the right,” said De la Peña.
In order to increase the amount of votes in El Paso, it is important
to have such action taken within the community and here at EPCC. Seventy
students were deputized at the VV campus this month alone and thirty
students were deputized at TM.
“They’ll help go out and register more people,”
stated De la Peña. “There is a negative need to bring
positive things in education. 24,000 students attend EPCC and the
majority can vote.”
So far 250 new registered voters have been attained since registration
began. The goal of Vote EPCC is to get 5,000 new registered voters
for the November elections.
Dates and places that events will be held are as follows: Sept. 25,
at TM, Sept. 26, at RG, Sept. 27, at VV, Sept. 28, at NW and Sept,
29, at MDP.
Each event is a system voter drive for registered students, faculty
and staff.
At each event there will be poets, musicians, and politician’s
engaged in talks about civic engagement. “This is how we can
get the community involved in mid-term election and the outcomes of
how it affects the community. If 24,000 students vote they are anticipating
100,000 voters. EPCC votes can be one-quarter of the votes; if they
get family to vote, we will have a higher percentage rate,”
said De La Peña.
Some of the top issues to be discussed at these functions will be:
the new immigration bill, whether or not to build a wall along the
US/Mexico border, Senate Bill S.2394, and the Universal National Service
Act of 2006 HR.4752.
In addition Vote EPCC, sponsors will provide more information about
the elections.
“If people are not registered they cannot enter into a dialogue
that they are not conscientious of,” said De la Peña.
“I think by what we’ve seen from staff, faculty and students,
interest in their world can help El Paso and American student activism
increase. Together we can make a stand,” said De La Peña.
