The state's campaign for No Excuse Voting polling sites opened its doors at UNC-system campuses across the state Monday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for one such site, UNC's Morehead Planetarium, included Board of Trustees Chairwoman Anne Cates, Student Body President Brad Matthews, UNC football coach Carl Torbush and UNC men's basketball coach Matt Doherty.
The site will be open to Orange County voters from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Nov. 3.
From the signs held beside the podium to the stickers worn by many of the event organizers, a main focus of the ceremony was the bond referendum. If passed in the Nov. 7 general election, it will generate $3.1 billion for N.C. public universities, with nearly $500 million going to UNC.
"I want UNC to be the No. 1 university, public or private, in the nation, and that takes funds," Doherty said. "I know I'll vote for the higher education bonds."
Torbush also linked the bond issue with the significance of an on-campus poll site to stress the importance of casting a ballot this year. "I challenge (students) to vote and be excited about the chance to be a part of UNC's history," he said.
Among others supportive of the poll site was UNC Young Democrats President Chris Brook. "Lots of students have lives that are very busy," Brook said. "This eliminates the excuse not to vote because you have three weeks."
Matthews said the opening of the site was the payoff of three years of work by senior Jessica Triche, chairwoman of the External Relations Committee of student government's executive branch.
"Voting should be a simple thing," Triche said. "You should be able to get up, find a few free minutes and vote."
The long process of opening up the site included discussions with UNC administration and Orange County Elections Board officials, who Triche said were all supportive of the idea.
