The $50,000 that the Association of Student Governments voted last Saturday to allot to UNC-system schools to promote voter education is a great use of money, if used efficiently.
In light of a recently passed N.C. law potentially hindering student voting efforts, this bill is a positive way to get more students out to vote.
Educating student voters is important, especially when young adults are new to the voting game and new legislation attempts to discourage voters.
With these laws, new voters need a reliable source of information.
If not used effectively, however, this grant could backfire and cause more controversy in the already budget-tight UNC system.
UNC should consider using a portion of the money not only for education about changing voter legislation, but also for information about new ballot issues and background on candidates in upcoming elections.
One way to do this could be funding a website where students could get the basics of what will be on the upcoming ballot and what it all means, as well as interact online with other student voters.
If students had a consistent place to go to obtain information on all ballot issues before heading to the polls, they would be more adamant about getting out to vote because they would be voting on issues they were educated about, and therefore care for more passionately.
As the next generation of voting Americans, the more educated college students are about their changing government and laws and how new policies can affect them, the more likely it is that they will be an active voting group for years to come.
