“Registered to vote?”

A student hurries past three women in the PUB. This process is repeated four times, until, finally: “Registered to vote?”
“You bet!” a man says, as he smiles at the women.

The League of Women Voters had three of its members camped out in the PUB on Tuesday, Sept. 27, armed with pamphlets, knowledge and temporary tattoos.

Judy Deiro has been with the League of Women Voters for four years. She and other League members register people to vote in high schools, homeless shelters and Goodwills. “We feel good if we get four or five people,” Deiro said. The League has over 1,000 local chapters and 50 state chapters. Still, getting people registered to vote isn’t easy.

Deiro said she doesn’t want students to look at them and just walk right by.
People often feel like they don’t know enough to vote, according to the League member, which is especially the case when it’s their first time. They may fill out only a section or two of the form with the names they recognize, Deiro said. But the League has a solution to this problem.

They created vote411.org, which allows people to enter in their address or cross streets to see what issues they can vote on, if they’re registered, and when ballots are due. It also provides ID requirements, registration deadlines, and nonpartisan, factual data on candidates. Vote411.org was launched in October of 2006 and the League describes it as a “one-stop-shop” for election-related information.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization and people of all genders are welcome to join. They meet 7-9 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at Third Place Commons in Lake Forest Park.

—Nellie Ferguson