Daily Pioneer News

The UW-Platteville Student Senate is working with student organizations to bring local and state candidates to campus prior to the Nov. 2 election. State Senator Dale Schultz, a Republican from Richland Center, was on campus Oct. 13 to meet with students. Schultz is running against third district incumbent Ron Kind, a Democrat from La Crosse, for a seat in the U.S. Congress. UWP will also host panel discussions on the elections during faculty forums Oct. 20 and 27.

PLATTEVILLE - As analysts expect the Nov. 2 presidential election to be one of the closest ever, persuading citizens to vote is also more important than ever. Several organizations at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are encouraging people to vote and are hosting events aimed at helping voters educate themselves on the candidates and the issues.

The UWP Department of Humanities and the UWP Students for Peace and Justice are organizing two forums focusing on the election that are open to the public Wednesday, Oct. 20 and Wednesday, Oct. 27 in the Thomas B. Lundeen Lecture Hall, 103 Doudna Hall. Both forums beginning at 7 p.m. will feature panel discussions with UWP faculty followed by question and answer sessions with the audience, humanities professor Martha Drummond said.

The UWP Student Senate is also working with student organizations to try to get state and local candidates to come to UWP before the election, said Alan Halfen, vice president, UWP Student Senate. Democrat Russ Feingold, facing a challenge from Republican Tim Michels for his seat in the U.S. Senate, was on the UWP campus for a speech back in February. Republican Dale Schultz, challenging Democrat incumbent Ron Kind for the right to represent Wisconsin's third district in the U.S. House of Representatives, was on campus Oct. 13 for a short speech and a meet and greet with students. "The best effort is going to be made to get as many candidates as possible here," Halfen said.

The state of Wisconsin allows citizens to register to vote the same day as the election, but it's often most convenient to register ahead-of-time, and Student Senate is also hosting a voter registration drive with a goal of registering 1,000 voters.

"I think 1,000 is [a] very good [goal], because I think a lot of people are already registered because of the primary," Halfen said. "Two years ago it was a great campaign to get out the vote, and I think this year will be very good as well."

Several UWP student senators have been deputized to administer registration papers, and a table has been set up at Pioneer Crossing in the Pioneer Student Center to make registering to vote convenient for students and staff. The registration drive will continue through Oct. 20.

Individuals who wish to pre-register after that date can do so at the city clerk's office at the Platteville Municipal Building, 75 North Bonson Street. Platteville City Clerk Annette Dutcher said a valid Wisconsin driver's license or social security number and proof of current address, such as a piece of mail or a witness, is required to register in person at the clerk's office prior to the election or at the polls on the day of the election.

In one local race that is drawing attention, two Platteville resident's will face off for the 49th district seat in the state assembly: Republican incumbent Gabe Loeffelholz and Democrat challenger Arlene Siss. Still, with Wisconsin targeted as one of a few swing states that will likely determine the country's next president, the race for the White House is taking center stage.

According to Wisconsin State Elections Board materials, the state ballot for the U.S. presidential race is likely to feature seven candidates: John F. Kerry (Democrat), George W. Bush (Republican, incumbent), Michael Badnarik (Libertarian), David Cobb (Wisconsin Green) and independents Ralph Nader, James Harris and Walter F. Brown.

According to CNN archives, in the 2000 election Democratic candidate Al Gore beat Republican George W. Bush by 4,604 Wisconsin votes-a miniscule margin given that nearly 2.6 million Wisconsinites voted-to win the state's 11 electoral votes, though Bush won the national electoral vote by a slim margin. Wisconsin has 10 electoral votes this time around, losing one due to population changes. A candidate must receive 270 Electoral College votes nationwide, a majority of the total 538 Electoral College votes, to win the presidential election.

Encouraging students to vote, UWP Student Senate is also sponsoring a shuttle service the day of the election to make sure people can get to the polls.

"We're planning on having a shuttle service all day from the residence halls to polling places on campus, and from the student center to the armory," Halfen said.

Most students living in residence halls will vote at the Ullsvik Center on campus, while most people living off campus will vote at the Platteville Armory, 475 North Water Street, though there are a few exceptions. For more information on how to register to vote or where to vote, contact UWP Student Senate at 342-1495, or e-mail Halfen at halfena@uwplatt.edu. The Platteville City Clerk's Office can be reached at 348-9741, or via e-mail, dutchera@platteville.org. Polls will be open in Platteville from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 2, Dutcher said.

Contact: Alan Halfen, vice president, UWP Student Senate, 608-342-1495, halfena@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Dan Lehnherr, UWP Public Relations, 608-342-1194, lehnherd@uwplatt.edu