Students able to vote in presidential election on-campus

October 31, 2008

For the first time ever, students at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will have the opportunity to elect a president at an on-campus polling site. The Hamilton Center in the UC will be open, along with all other polling places in Wisconsin, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

“A great deal of hard work and collaboration went into the process of creating a polling place on campus and it will be really exciting to see it in action on Tuesday,” Associate Director of Career and Leadership Development Jan Bilgen said. “It represents one of the many ways that students, faculty/staff and community members can come together.”

“The long lines during the presidential election in 2004 were a deterrent for many students on campus,” Whitewater City Manager Kevin Brunner said.  “We’re glad to be working with UW-Whitewater and the university’s student government to create ease of voting for students.”

An expected 80 percent voter turnout has resulted in the City of Whitewater ordering additional voter ballots. More than 1,000 absentee ballots have already been cast in the city of Whitewater.

Students living in Arey, Benson, Fricker, Lee, Clem, Bigelow and Fischer residence halls can all vote at the Hamilton Center. Students living in Tutt, Fisher, Knilans, Wellers and Wells residence halls all vote at the Old Armory at 146 North St. To find out where to vote, go to http://www.ci.whitewater.wi.us/Your_Government/elections.html.

To register on Election Day, you must present a proof of residence as well as state issued drivers license or identification card.

“I hope to see as many people vote in Whitewater as possible,” Bilgen said.