Editors note: Sam Allen is the son of Laura Allen
Submitted by SAM ALLEN and ANNA TOWNS
The American Democracy Project (ADP) at Fort Hays State University has shared research showing increased voter registration at Kansas universities with polling locations on campus. Unfortunately, FHSU does not have a polling location on campus, despite years of advocating for one. That same research reveals the embarrassing fact that FHSU was the Regents school with the lowest voting rate in 2020. Surely, those two facts are related, and surely, it is time to make a change.
The current county clerk, Bobbi Dreiling has resisted efforts to establish a polling place on campus. When we discuss having a polling place on campus, the clerk asserts that the current location is not far for the college students to travel. As a student who lives on campus, it would take me (Samuel) approximately forty minutes to walk to the nearest polling location, Messiah Lutheran, and then another forty minutes to return to campus. This does not include any possible inclement weather we might have on election day, which may delay travel time. Nor does it take into consideration the class and work time that would be taken up by this journey.
We understand that students would not be the only population voting at a campus polling location. However, we believe that the high concentration of students in this area–and the potential for increased registrations–warrants the need for a polling place on campus. Campus and community groups have been working to bring a polling place to campus since at least 2018, and have met every challenge. Each new obstacle that the clerk invents has been solved by the dedicated students who have been working on this project for years:
● Finding an area that is big enough and ADA compliant: Cunningham Hall is large enough and is fully ADA compliant.
● Not enough parking (keep in mind that the previous polling location at 601 Main had fewer than 20 parking spots): Cunningham Hall has an abundance of parking spots, and the University Police have been supportive of efforts to bring a polling place to campus and would help with traffic flow issues.
● Location availability for Election Day and Special Elections: Coaches and building managers have agreed that the polling place would have priority, and that they would not schedule an event for election days.
A related issue is the absence of any attempt by the county clerk to engage FHSU students in the election process via education, awareness, and voter registration. At Monday’s County Clerk Forum, the Incumbent, Bobbi Dreiling, commented that she had not heard from students at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) or the American
Democracy Project (ADP), and therefore had not been active in voter education or registration on campus. At FHSU, anyone is welcome to have a table at the FHSU Back to School Picnic (former Clerk Maskus and Treasurer Peifer had a booth at the 2016 Picnic - Facebook), request a space to give a talk, or have a table in the Memorial Union.
The impetus to involve the campus community in the voting process should not lie with student groups alone. However, this semester, at least five student organizations hosted tables in the Union to help students get registered, check their registration, and request a mail-in ballot from Ellis County (or the Kansas county where they are registered). The clerk herself should be more proactive in her approach to community outreach and should have done more during a presidential election year, when more people are likely to be engaged in this democratic process.
I (Samuel), a student and employee at FHSU, also had the opportunity to speak to two sociology classes on campus about the importance of voting, getting registered, and the laws regarding elections in Kansas. We do not see any reason why the current clerk would not have taken the opportunity to reach out to students in this way as well. Clerk Dreiling says she has an open-door policy, but apparently, the door only works one way, where citizens have to come to her instead of being met where they are.
When we take a closer look at the statistics presented by Mrs. Dreling during the forum, we see a concerning reality: Out of the total 1,650 students residing on the FHSU campus, only 69 are registered to vote in Ellis County. This astonishingly low figure represents a mere 4% of the student population living on campus. We believe this situation highlights a significant missed opportunity for civic engagement with the campus community.
One can only imagine how enjoyable it must be for her to visit elementary schools and run mock elections with the young students, helping to instill in them a sense of civic duty and participation. However, the lack of follow-through with similar efforts directed toward college students at FHSU is a failure of the office. These college students are at a pivotal time in their lives when understanding and participating in real elections could greatly impact their commitment to this community and their future as engaged citizens.
Real elections influence everything from local policies to funding for educational programs, and yet, with such a small percentage of students registered to vote, it seems that their voices are not being heard. It would be beneficial for the county clerk to come to FHSU and engage students in discussions about the voting process, the importance of their participation, and the real-world consequences of their choices at the polls.
Creating opportunities for dialogue and education around these topics could inspire more students to register and vote, ultimately strengthening our democracy and enhancing community involvement.
Bobbi Dreiling has shown us time and again that she is not a candidate who supports this vision for Ellis County’s future. It is time to vote for a candidate who will work with and for all citizens. It is time to vote for Laura Allen!
Links: https://www.facebook.com/voteann/posts/pfbid03AAHVa3ioZV1WMfLVM31K7UjGVW6yaaUdJFGu4KrTytoyPqKiwZQz7vG8DCZx6ikl?rdid=9cB2ef7HMwNa7fix