One Wick Worldwide Project Signs Up Student Voters

A Hawks in Flight Feature

With the 2022 midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8, sociology Professor Zachary McKenney is using his One Wick Worldwide pledge, in partnership with Dr. Laurel Elder, the League of Women Voters, the Otsego County Board of Elections, the office of Civic Engagement and students in his Qualitative Methods course, to register Hartwick students, faculty and staff to vote.

“First-year students will be on campus for the midterms and the 2024 election,” McKenney explains. “Registering them here means they don’t have to get an absentee ballot or travel home to vote.”

Additionally, he says, it connects them to the community. “They can vote for the mayor, Common Council and the Board of Education,” he says. “It’s a great way to feel like you’re part of the community.”

In all, students registered 146 students and assisted “at least” 100 additional students in requesting absentee ballots. Michael Christian ’24, along with Joshua Titus ’25 and Abbey Herbinger ’26, registered 26 people in one day, up from the previous record of 19, set the previous week by Victoria Balfe ’24 and Elizabeth Baird ’24.

“It’s about getting young people involved in being a good citizen,” said Christian. “It gives them a voice, and if they vote once, they make it a habit.”

The Political Science department is also hosting a poster contest, asking students to design a piece to educate the campus community about an issue, a candidate, or the importance of voting. The deadline is Oct. 14, and prizes for the top three posters will be awarded.

It’s easy to register to vote. Go to www.vote411.org/, check to make sure your registration is current, and learn about the candidates in your area. Will you join us?

Tell us about your acts of kindness and please be sure to sign the One Wick Worldwide pledge.