College students vote early via satellite

Who said student's don't care?

Politically active students at Luther College in are working hard to register their peers and make it easier for them to vote this cycle. These students have set up tables around campus and visited all the residence halls, encouraging students to vote early through a new satellite system on campus.

Satellite voting is an increasing trend this year, especially with an expected increase in voter turnout. The purpose is to give easier access to early voters, avoiding the process of getting an absentee ballot or not being able to make it to the polls on November 2. Sites include universities, libraries and other public places.

By setting up an early-vote system via satellite, students can no longer claim that it is too difficult to vote by absentee ballots, nor can they claim that they didn't know about the system.
The early satellite vote at Luther College will take place October 7.

“The advantage is obvious: voting turnouts in America have been low for some time and the argument is that with fewer barriers more people will vote,” says John Moeller, professor of political science and director of Ethics and Public Life. “This is true for a lot of groups but certainly applies to college students if there is a satellite spot set up on campus.”

The biggest concern with the satellite system is that the voting process is slipping towards privatization and away from a public initiative. Voting should be compelling process, in which all able Americans take part. But with low voter turnout (even with the expected increase this year, the numbers certainly won't break 50%), how else do we as a society encourage voting? Do we acquiesce to apathy and increase voting with the risk of privatization or do we continue with out-dated but more participatory methods? Should only those people with the greatest desire to vote get the chance or do we uphold our value that all citizens should have the right and the access to vote?

Obama's lead continues

According to pollster.com, Obama's lead in Iowa is on a steady increase.

Bradley Effect

A simple and truthful comment from Kathleen Sebelius, governor of Kansas and and early supporter of Obama, has brought back a painful realization that Democrats have kept away in the back of their minds: The Bradley Effect.

At a local library in Iowa last Tuesday, September 16 Sebelius honestly called forth the issue that Obama is part Black and this may prove to be a deal breaker for many voters, and a possible reason why the race in the Midwest is so close between Obama and McCain.

If the polls in Iowa are too close on election day, it is a possiblity that Obama's points in the polls will not be a solid indicator of his lead, that the Bradley effect will be a mask on McCain's actual lead.

Sebelius was only being honest, recognizing an unfortunate fact in American politics, but the GOP has jumped all over her comment and made her out to be "divisive." Christian Morgan, the executive director of the Kansas GOP, claims that Sebelius is playing a political game to take the focus off real political issues, that she is "off her rocker".

If some Americans still have issues with an African American (or woman) president, then the issue of race and gender are still prevelenat political problems. Presidential campaigning needs some veracity and Sebelius was not afraid to rock the boat with an uncomfortable truth.

50 Days to General Election

Iowa was a battle ground state for the 2004 presidential election. This cycle, whether the state will go blue or red is still up in the air, however currently Iowa is leaning toward Obama.

1996 General Election Results
Dole/Kemp (R) with 492,644 votes
Clinton/Gore (D) with 620,258 *State and national winner

2000 General Election Results
Bush/Cheney (R) with 634,373 votes
Gore/Lieberman (D) with 638,517 votes *State and national winner

2004 General Election Restults
Bush/Cheney (R) with 751,967 votes *State and national winner
Kerry/Edwards (D) with 741,898 votes


Iowa is another state that has a mix of Democrats and Republicans in national and executive seats.
Current democratic governor, Chet Cluver, was elected in 2006 and will be up in 2011. Senator

Tom Harkin has been a steadfast Democrat in Iowa. Harkin was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974, and has been a U.S. Senator since 1984. His fourth full term will be up this cycle. Harkin and Obama have been allies in the Senate, working on raising standards for renewable fuel. Harkin officially endorsed Obama during the primaries. Harkin also claims that Obama is a "friend" to Iowa agriculture. Harkin's cornerstone for re-election this year is his Rural Agenda campaign. With agriculture one of Iowa's largest concerns, this endorsement coming from a current and running Senator certainly adds a boost to Obama's campaign in this state.

Republican Charles Grassley holds the other Senate seat. Elected in 1980, his fourth full term will be up in 2010. Grassley is another steadfast politician in Iowa; he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives over half a century ago in 1958.