In preparation for the upcoming presidential election, the Student Union will collaborate with other campus departments and organizations on an initiative called Brandeis Votes, a nonpartisan voter registration drive and voting awareness project. According to Student Union President Jason Gray '10, the initiative aims "to make a community-wide effort to engage Brandeis in the electoral process" and to register all eligible students to vote.

Students will be provided with voter registration forms and the necessary resources to obtain absentee ballots, Gray said.

As part of Brandeis Votes, the Union plans to hold a competition among campus organizations that will encourage members to vote and help them register.

Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa said the Athletics department is willing to help with the drive by setting up registration tables at athletic events. The Department of Residence Life has agreed to participate as well, although the Student Union has not yet determined the details.

The Student Union is currently discussing with Student Events the possibility of giving a publicity-generating concert close to the election date "to get people excited about voting," Gray said.

The Office of Communications and the Union will work together to organize an educational forum on the election. "I hope that if this is successful, it will be implemented for future elections," Gray said.