The Associated Student Government unanimously passed emergency legislation Wednesday night calling on the city of Evanston and Cook County to ensure that students are able to vote in the wards and precincts in which they reside.
“If students don’t vote where they live, down the road for other elections that could be a problem,” said Jane Lee, ASG president.
Lee and co-author Jon Marino, external relations chair, brought the bill before ASG at the weekly Senate meeting after Lee was sent a voter identification card with the incorrect precinct and ward information.
ASG plans to maintain contact with the city and county governments. It will urge the city to issue new voter registration cards that print the correct ward and precincts for the students, said Lee, a Weinberg senior.
“The least they can do is their job,” said Marino, an Education junior, when introducing the bill. She later added the city and council have been very cooperative and helpful in getting information out.
In accordance with the bill, ASG will submit letters to the city and county clerks offices explaining its concerns.
“(We are) going to push them to ensure that all students’ votes get counted,” Marino said.
Lee said she feels positive about the city working with ASG and students to get the problem corrected.
In other ASG news, student groups can look forward to competing for about $25,000 in extra funds.
“ASG is usually accused of spending a lot,” said Zaid Pardesi, financial vice president and a McCormick senior. “Now we’re returning huge sums of money back to the student programs.”
ASG did not spend all of its operating budget last year, leaving more money for A-status student groups to bid on this fall during supplemental funding.
The 40 or so A-status groups on campus are eligible to apply for the funds, which come from the Student Activities Fee every student pays with tuition.
In other ASG business:
The Senate confirmed three new subcommittee chairs for the Student Services Committee: security chairwoman, Jessica Joslin, an Education junior; diversity chairwoman, Whitney Gretz, a Weinberg sophomore; and community chairwoman, Stephanie Yang, a Weinberg sophomore.
Gabe Matlin, a McCormick senior, was confirmed as technology vice chairman.
Reach Alexis Crawford at [email protected] and Helena Oh at [email protected].