On Nov. 4, 2008, waiting at the shuttle stop next to the HUB, were multiple vans ready to take eager students to vote in the 2008 Presidential Election.
Starting at 7:45 a.m. and going to 6:40 p.m., the shuttles also helped with providing information to first time voters, including what was needed to register. Organizing these services was the “Democratic Coordinated Campaign,” which includes “Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change in NH”. “University students are very important to this election,” Larkin Varker, Press Secretary said, “It’s really important to get people who want to vote to the polls.” The D.C.C. also provides shuttle services for Universities all across N.H., as a way of helping out young voters. .
According to students who rode the shuttle to cast their ballot, it was a great help. “I think it’s great and so helpful.” Logan Russell, a PSU first year said. Russell was a first time voter. “It would certainly take away a lot of young votes without this service.”
Also glad was PSU first year Brian Juranty,”It would be a huge pain in the butt to walk there, especially with classes during the day,” Juranty said.
Students were continually stopped even walking by the table next to the shuttle stop, by volunteers asking if they voted yet. Each van could hold seven people, and the shuttles arrived every three minutes.
Students were told to have their PSU student ID’s, or a driver’s license in order to register to vote. Students were also told to be weary of those who told them they could not vote. A volunteer continually warned about this even saying, “It is their right to tell you what they want, and it is your right to know they are lying and cast your ballot anyway.”
Out of the general chatter of people waiting for the shuttle, the one thing that was always repeated over and over was how quick and easy the whole process was. No more than 20 minutes to register, vote and ride back to PSU was the general consensus, which could be heard within earshot of the volunteer table.
Students were given everything they needed to know, a ride from the shuttle service and plenty of encouragement from the people of the D.C.C. to successfully vote, most of whom for the first time. “It would be a lot more difficult if it wasn’t for these shuttles, and very discouraging also.” PSU student Ken Haywood said.