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Empower the Vote: UA-PTC launches civic engagement initiative

UA-PTC announces the launch of the Empower the Vote initiative, an effort aimed at increasing voter registration and civic engagement among its student body, faculty, and staff. Empower the Vote will take place Sept. 16-19 and will feature a series of engaging activities designed to foster a culture of civic engagement. The week includes collaborations with the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute and the Clinton School of Public Service.

Empower the Vote Week Schedule:

Sept.16: Voter Registration Drive

Register to vote at stations featuring interactive booths, games, and activities at the Main Campus and Little Rock-South site. Locations: Campus Center lobby, CHARTS lobby and Little Rock – South concourse, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sept.17: Voter Registration Drive and Constitution Day

Register to vote at stations featuring interactive booths, games, and activities at the Main Campus and Little Rock-South site. Locations: Campus Center lobby, CHARTS lobby and Little Rock – South concourse, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sept. 18: Winthrop Rockefeller Civic Arkansas listening sessions

Civic Arkansas is the Rockefeller Institute’s initiative to improve Arkansas's civic health by leveraging a network of civic organizations across the state and empowering communities and citizens to practice collaborative problem-solving at the local level.

The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute will host three listening sessions in the CHARTS Performance Studio at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12:15 p.m. Just choose the session that fits your schedule; there’s no need to attend more than one. The Performance Studio can be found next to the CHARTS lobby on the UA-PTC Main Campus in North Little Rock.

ALL STUDENTS are invited and you do not need to prepare anything; just show up and share your experiences with civic engagement by discussing topics such as voting, social connectedness, local communities, and media. Your input is needed and confidential. This is a safe space to share your thoughts.

Shana Chaplin and her team from the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute want to listen and learn from students in Arkansas about the good things happening in their communities and learn about barriers to participating in voting, volunteering, and community involvement. UA-PTC is their first stop on their listening tour in Arkansas.

Sept.19: Clinton School of Public Service Workshop on Elections

Many Americans believe we need a better system, one that ensures that all eligible voters can vote and that we can all trust the accuracy of the results. Are big changes necessary? Could some of the changes proposed by leaders today have unintended consequences?

Dr. Robert Richards, Director of the Open Governance Lab and Associate Professor and his graduate students from the Clinton School of Public Service will enable participants to deliberate about proposed election reforms in facilitated small group discussions. This workshop is conducted in partnership with the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, the Central Arkansas Library System, and the National Issues Forums Institute. This workshop is for UA-PTC Student Senate, Ambassadors, and all student organizations and faculty sponsors.

This event will take place on Main Campus in the Business Technology Center, Tom Steves Community Room, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Please join the conversation and RSVP for this event and lunch.

The objectives of Empower the Vote are:

• Increase voter registration: Register a significant number of students, faculty, and staff to vote in the November 2024 elections and future elections. The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election is Monday, Oct. 7.
• Promote civic education: Educate the UA-PTC community about the importance of voting and the electoral process.
• Foster political engagement: Create a culture of civic responsibility and political participation on campus.

By participating in these activities, UA-PTC students, faculty, and staff can learn more about the importance of voting, register to vote, and become active participants in the democratic process.