The first day of classes after fall break saw a voter registration event set up shop on Taylor Drive. With a table full of swag and a water ice and pretzel truck slinging free food, Montgomery County Voter Services came out in hopes of getting Bryn Mawr students to either register to vote or submit a mail-in ballot. The event was part of a larger push in Montgomery County to get voters registered, with the Voter Services team traveling to colleges, senior centers, and other community spaces around the County. Only 30 minutes into its 11 a.m – 3 p.m run, the event had attracted a large crowd of students, with a line having formed behind the Voter Services van of students waiting to submit registrations and mail-in ballot applications before the October 21 deadline.
One of the tables was manned by Ellie Esmond from the Bryn Mawr Career and Civic Engagement Center as well as Student Voting Ambassador Olivia Loudon ‘25. They were eager to answer questions and walk students through the process of registration or mail-in ballot application, with Esmond saying that while students have a choice whether to vote at home or through the College, the College is “here to support that choice.” Loudon also made sure to mention that the Career and Civic Engagement Center will be running a shuttle service to and from the polling place at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Montgomery County Board of Elections Commissioner and Chair Neil Makhija also made an appearance at the event as part of a larger effort on his part to encourage “historic turnout” from Montgomery County on Election Day. Commissioner Makhija highlighted the importance of getting college-aged people to vote, stating that “right now people 65+ vote at a much higher rate than people [aged] 18-30. It would make such a difference if young people voted at the same rate as other groups.”
With Pennsylvania being a swing state, Commissioner Makhija emphasized the importance of registering to vote, saying that “all eyes are on Pennsylvania…this [PA] is a place where your vote really matters.” Though today’s event was focused on college students, Commissioner Makhija mentioned that he wanted to encourage voter turnout among all populations in Montgomery County, stating that “in Pennsylvania…we have the power to set the tone of the country.” On campus until 2:30 p.m., the Voter Services event presumably made a sizable impact on Bryn Mawr students’ engagement with the upcoming presidential election.
