The voter participation rate among Lake Michigan College students has doubled in the past four years. LMC says a report has found the voting rate among students was 17% for the 2014 midterm elections, and 35% in the 2018 midterms. LMC political science instructor Tiffany Bohm credits the LMC Votes campaign, which sought to increase voter registrations at the college. She spoke with WSJM News.
“It started with a class, a campaigns and elections class,” Bohm said. “That was held last fall, and we had students who were our campus leaders, peer leadership if you want to call it that, who earned college credit learning about campaigns and elections.”
Bohm says 35% might not seem like a very high percentage, but she’s pleased with the progress.
“The fact that we have moved the needle on college campuses to above 30% is huge across the board.”
Bohm says students these days are more exposed to political issues through social media and general conversation. Meanwhile, set for this Tuesday is a voter registration drive at LMC. At the Benton Township campus, there will be volunteers signing people up to vote from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be volunteers at the South Haven campus from 11 to 1. Everyone is welcome to stop by and get themselves registered to vote in the next election.
