With the start of advance voting on the horizon, Brad Bryant found himself faced with something unusual -- a group of college students eager to bring people to the polls.
Bryant, the state’s election officer, addressed about 50 Emporia State University economics students Wednesday. The students are part of the American Democracy Project, a 32-state effort to get more college students registered to vote.
“It’s hard,” Bryant said. “That group, ages 18 to 24, is typically the lowest turnout on the age spectrum. I personally think they need to have a stake in the system and competitive, interesting races, and we’re lacking that. But if we lack those, the next best thing is peer pressure from a group like this. That can do a lot.”
The group was also addressed by Lyon County Democratic Party head Jerry Karr and former State Rep. Jim Lowther, a Republican, as part of a voter registration rally.
This is ESU’s third year in the project. This year, the national project aims to register 40,000 college voters.
“They’re attentive, they’re somewhat curious,” Bryant said after speaking to the group on the importance of civic involvement. “I’m almost preaching to the choir.”
Whether in or out of school, Kansans still have time to make sure their voices are heard in the coming election. The deadline to register is Oct. 23. Advance voting begins Oct. 18 and continues until noon on Nov. 6, the day before the general election.
For those following the Kansas races closely, remaining debates include:
• Oct. 23 — Gubernatorial debate between Republican Sen. Jim Barnett and Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius at noon at Century II in Wichita.
• Oct. 24 — Attorney general’s debate between Republican incumbent Phill Kline and Democrat Paul Morrison at noon at Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino in Mayetta, near Topeka.
• Oct. 24 — Lieutenant governor’s debate between Democrat Mark Parkinson and Republican Sen. Susan Wagle, 7 p.m. in Albert Taylor Hll at Emporia State University.
• Oct. 28 — Gubernatorial debate, 5:30 p.m. in Topeka, broadcast by KSNT-TV.