Voter Registration as a requirement

TheEpitome1920 · #1 07-28-2004, 12:43 PM

Does your organization require that members be registered voters?

If not, do you think they should? If no, why?

Little E · #2 07-28-2004, 12:48 PM

No, and we shouldn't. As a poli sci major, i fully believe in voting (unless you live in florida who can't seem to figure out how to run an election) but i also believe that it is a right to choose to vote. i wonder why people will complain, but won't spend 20min in Nov/spring to cast a ballot. It would be unfair, and also, it would make it ackward for non-citizens who are members. I feel like my sorority experience was special partly because it wasn't political. I went to a politically active school and i just don't think that everyone can handle intense interpersonal relationships with politics being mandated.

OleMissGlitter · #3 07-28-2004, 12:55 PM

No, AOII does not require members to be registered voters...like Little E said, "I feel like my sorority experience was special partly because it wasn't political." I totally agree...

Senusret I · #4 07-28-2004, 01:03 PM

APhiA requires proof of voter registration for all applicants.

Lady Pi Phi · #5 07-28-2004, 01:08 PM

No, I don't believe that it should be a requirement.
I agree with Little E. While I believe everyone should vote and I also feel that those who don't vote shouldn't bitch about politics. I also believe that it is their right to choose to vote and if you don't want to either because you're too lazy or you're "trying to make a statement", then it's your right and should be a requirement of membership, especially into a social GLO.

honeychile · #6 07-28-2004, 01:09 PM

No, we do not require members to be registered voters.

I don't think it should be required, but those who don't register are missing out on a large part of our democracy. Voting is a privilege!

Rudey · #7 07-28-2004, 01:13 PM

Great idea but no.

-Rudey

Kevin · #8 07-28-2004, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
Does your organization require that members be registered voters?

If not, do you think they should? If no, why?

Nope, but that's a great idea that I'll pass along to my active chapter.

CASIGKAP · #9 07-28-2004, 01:19 PM

We do not require it nor would I want it too. Sorority is political in its own right. We do not have to add anything republican/democrat related to what is supposed to be an experience that is about sisterhood not who's on the left or right.

TheEpitome1920 · #10 07-28-2004, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CASIGKAP
We do not require it nor would I want it too. Sorority is political in its own right. We do not have to add anything republican/democrat related to what is supposed to be an experience that is about sisterhood not who's on the left or right.

How is being registered to vote party related??

Don't our organizations host voter registration drives??

xo_kathy · #11 07-28-2004, 01:47 PM

Not required for us either.

But watching the DNC has made me think what a great thing it would be to at least offer it to our chapters. I think often people don't register to vote because they don't know how, or they think it will take a long time, it's not convenient, they forget to, etc etc. I think it would be cool to have someone in charge of it in the chapter. They always have the forms and the info on where to send it. And we wouldn't force it on anyone, but if they wanted it we cold help them out. I don't see anything political about that. You aren't forcing them to register to a particular party.

Lady Pi Phi · #12 07-28-2004, 01:52 PM

I don't think there's anything wrong with orgs encouraging their members to register to vote or to host voter registration drives.

I don't think it should be a requirement of membership.

Senusret I · #13 07-28-2004, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
How is being registered to vote party related??

Don't our organizations host voter registration drives??

I don't know if her organization hosts voter registration drives.

But her organization does say:

Quote:

The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is..... to make a constructive contribution to the communities in which its collegiate and alumnae clubs are located by encouraging the exercise of the rights and obligations of good citizens and the support of worthwhile civic, social and philanthropic projects.

Now certainly the key word is "encouraging" (not requiring) but even if SK "required" voter registration, it clearly wouldn't be against its stated purpose.

TheEpitome1920 · #14 07-28-2004, 02:09 PM

Mad you went to the website, ROFLOL.

33girl · #15 07-28-2004, 02:13 PM

Registering to vote or encouraging someone to do so is not "political." If you made them register with a certain party, or followed them on election day to make sure they voted, that would be another story.

I wish NPC/NIC/NPHC would get together for a joint registration drive. I agree that it shouldn't be a requirement, since not everyone in our orgs is a US citizen.