As first-year and returning students arrived on campus this year, HamVotes (an on-campus organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement among Hamilton students and profiled in the Sept. 6 issue of

The Spectator

) helped register them to vote either in their home district or in New York’s 22nd Congressional District (the local voting district.)

In NY-22, the Democratic and Republican candidates, Anthony Brindisi and Claudia Tenney, respectively, are locked in a tight race for the congressional seat. With such an important midterm election coming up in November, many students are aware of the importance of registering to vote, and many decided to register in NY-22.

For students who did not know where to begin the registration process, HamVotes made it easy by providing information in residence halls and mandatory first-year events like Matriculation. Some students who had already registered in their home districts decided to switch their registrations to NY-22.

Chris Tolan ’22 decided to switch his registration to NY-22 so he would feel more connected to the voting process. “I decided to register locally so I could get more politically involved on campus. I think it’s important to go to the polls rather than have an absentee ballot,” said Tolan. “My experience [in changing my registration] was very quick and easy,” he added.

Other students decided to register to vote in NY-22 for politically strategic reasons. Nandini Subramanian ’22 and Karina Becerra ’22 registered to vote for the first time this year. Both decided to register in NY-22 because they felt their votes would count more in a swing district.

Subramanian, who grew up in India but was born in the United States, wanted to be “able to vote in a county where every vote can count.” She believes that especially in a district where a lot of students reside, voting can make a huge difference in the outcome.

Nandini mentioned that the NY-22 district is traditionally Republican, but she believes students registering to vote in the district could have an impact on the outcome of this year’s election.

Becerra, a Texas native, agreed with Subramanian, “My motivations for voting were being able to make an impact and having my voice heard, especially since I registered to vote here, a swing-state district, where my vote actually matters.” Becerra just recently turned 18, so she will cast her first vote in the upcoming midterm election.

All three students agreed that HamVotes, a new student and faculty organization looking to get more students involved in electing politicians, was helpful in providing useful information and answering questions about registration.

HamVotes looks to empower students by making sure their voices are heard in the next election, and the group has maintained an active presence at student events.

Nicole Taylor ’18, the chairman of HamVotes, said that the group has been very successful so far this year. At Matriculation events alone, the group registered about 150 students to vote.

Taylor said that while many of those students registered to vote in NY-22, HamVotes does not have the specific number because they are more focused on getting students to vote rather than collecting data on where students register.

“We just help make the process easier, we don’t keep track of what decisions students make,” said Taylor. HamVotes has played a significant role in the number of new voters on campus by making the process quick and easy. This is especially helpful for first-year students, who are still trying to establish their footing on campus.

“HamVotes helped me register to vote in general; I wouldn’t have known where to begin [without it],” says Becerra. “They were polite and patient in answering my questions and explained what I was doing.”

Whatever their political affiliation, students are recognizing that they have power through voting in elections. Many are eager to have their voices heard and to help shape the future of the country.

“Registering to vote is a civic duty that is important to partake in,” said Tolan. “I want to have a say in how the country I live in is governed.”