By Anne Halliwell

[email protected]

As the Monday deadline for general election voter registration approaches, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth ramped up its efforts to reach young and minority voters, said deputy director for voter empowerment Enchanta Jackson.

In four weeks of work on 15 Kentucky campuses, the group has registered about 1,000 voters for the Nov. 4 election, Jackson said.

“We’re really trying to go into areas that are marginalized or that political parties don’t really target,” Jackson said. “This week was the last opportunity.”

The nonpartisan organization focusing on participation in elections and social justice underwent 48 hours of “Voter Madness” in a last-ditch effort to include Lexington residents in the voting process.

“We were at Waffle Houses, we were at Tolly Ho, we were at nightclubs,” Jackson said. “Just making sure we don’t just register people who are eating at the cafeteria.”

The three or four KFTC people talking to students on campus every day were usually able to reach 150 to 200 people per day, said voter empowerment organizer Tyler Offerman, who was part of the group of organizers and volunteers who walked around UK’s campus.

Of those who stop, about half register to vote or sign up to receive KFTC’s voter guide, a survey sent out to political candidates that outlines their stances on political issues, Offerman added.

“We don’t endorse any candidates, we don’t tell people who to vote for,” Offerman said. “Obviously we’re really big on getting people to vote … but we assume you’re an intelligent, rational person and you’ll make your own choices.”

Students also receive information about issues that affect them directly like position on state university funding and student loans, Offerman said.

“Young people have the most to lose from youth inaction,” Offerman said. “We’ll have to live with these consequences the most.”

Vocal music education and spanish senior Austin Norrid said he appreciates when people are already registered to vote by the time he and other KFTC volunteers approach them about getting involved and want more information.

“Democracy is important to me and I feel like the U.S. is on the precipice of change,” Norrid said.

Biochemistry freshman Regan Lee said she was looking for more information about the candidates, as she hadn’t learned much about their positions on political issues.

“I think people my age need to be more involved in politics in general,” Lee said.

Biology freshman Nicaia Nash agreed that students who can vote, should vote.

“I think you should play your part in being a U.S. citizen,” Nash said.

After the Monday deadline passes,

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth will begin handing out the voter guide surveys on campus, Offerman said.

“We’ll be in it for the long haul,” Offerman said. “We’re out here until Nov. 4.”