MSU Vote, a nonpartisan student initiative, aims to increase student voter registration and inform students about upcoming elections, voter registration and voter knowledge heading into the election. 

Its main motto: “Go Green, Go White, Go Vote.” 

Political theory and constitutional democracy senior Aiden Bourgeau plays a role in these efforts as the organization’s initiative programming intern. Bourgeau said the organization launched a new website this semester structured around three main initiative points: getting registered, making a plan and being informed. 

The website also has voter guides equipped to provide students with voting information based on the state a student selects on the site, Bourgeau said. 

Students who plan to vote in Michigan can find their city clerk using the Secretary of State’s “Find My Clerk” system.

“It makes it super easy to find a clerk based on your address and will also be able to find out the location of an early voting center,” Bourgeau said.

Bourgeau said the organization uses Vote 411 to not only provide students with nonpartisan information regarding election candidates and officials, but also help students get sample ballots.

“Helping get those sample ballots out in the hands of students before the election season is super important to us in helping them get informed and get familiarized with different candidates so they can do their own research and form their own opinions,” Bourgeau said.

In addition to setting up information tables around campus, MSU Vote has participated in events such as Sparticipation and Spartan Remix.

“Making sure we’re present at such events is our first main objective with getting students familiar with who we are,” Bourgeau said. “The website is another way for students to interact with us.”

Efforts from partisan student organizations also center around getting people to register and vote. 

MSU College Democrats President Liam Richichi said the organization is working on voter outreach, some of which is implemented through social media.  

“We use social media a lot to our advantage,” Richichi said. “... Our communications director, Jade Holloway, is really great at what he does, and he and I have come up with a lot of great strategies to increase our following and engagement, which has been really successful.”

But efforts extend beyond the screen. Richichi said the organization prides itself on being social with students, including holding events like hayrides, a tour of the state capitol, courtyard picnics and movie nights.

The group also plans to knock on doors and have a voter registration table set up around campus throughout the semester.

Similarly, MSU College Republicans' Vice Chair Zayne Bratschi said the organization is working to increase its engagement. Bratschi, who is a political science senior, said future initiatives to engage with students will include door-knocking and tabling around campus. 

Bratschi said the organizations may even collaborate in the effort to register students to vote, adding that “we’re just trying to be out there doing the best we can do for who we support.”

“We have people that are far on the left, we have people that are center to the left, we have people that are traditional Democrats,” Richichi said. “The president of MSU College Republicans, I’m actually friends with. We’re able to be civil to one another while still having our own opinions, which I think is part of the beauty of America.”

Both groups are also engaging with their respective parties to further engage with and inform students. 

Richichi said that in addition to providing information on Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the organization is providing education on state and local elections. They have featured guests such as State Senator Sam Singh, State Representative Julie Brixie, and congressional candidate Curtis Hertel to emphasize the importance of voting in these elections.

This allows students to learn about the candidates and what they stand for, Richichi said. 

College Republicans has also been hosting events and working closely with campaigns, like that of congressional candidate Tom Barrett.

“Always having the opportunity to actually see politicians in their natural environment and talking to us is, I think, the best way to allow our members to hear about them,” Bratschi said. “With the debate, we all heard (Harris’) points and thought at times she was doing better than Trump, so it’s still trying to be fair.”

Though both organizations are similarly mobilizing their members, their messaging is where they diverge. 

Richichi said the organization is reaching students with the message that Vice President Harris has the ability to unite people regardless of race, gender, sexuality and political affiliation.

“We’re really trying to play on that to unite all of our new members at MSU,” Richichi said.

MSU College Republicans’ main goal is to make sure students are fully aware of current events within the world of politics and conservativism.

These are topics the group discusses at its meetings, Bratschi said, “to make sure everyone knows about the candidates properly.”

Part of informing students also involves combating misinformation. 

Richichi said the organization is working to provide all students with the most accurate information regarding the election.

“Almost every election cycle, there is widespread misinformation, whether that is via social media, flyers, or misinformation campaigns on campus,” Richichi said. “I have seen flyers on campus and across Michigan that have said in the past that you can vote online, which is something you can’t do. You can register to vote online, but you can’t vote online.”

Sometimes, Richichi said, people think they’re being helpful but are not fully looking into the information they share.

“Whether that is combating it on social media or if we notice an organization on campus is spreading misinformation or falsely leading students into the wrong direction, that is something that we are willing to stand up against and set the truth straight,” Richichi said. 

Bourgeau said MSU Vote is working closely with the East Lansing City Clerk's office to “ensure that the information we put out to students is accurate.”

“That’s something that we’re in constant conversations about,” Bourgeau said. 

Lots of effort goes into getting people to register and get informed, but it doesn’t always translate to votes. 

“(Voter turnout) is something that can fluctuate year to year depending on which election cycle it is or a local or general election,” Bourgeau said. “You might have 100% of voter registry but your turnout might only be 30%.”

Bourgeau said the organization is continuing to post on social media to remind students of absentee ballot deadlines and information regarding early voting centers.

Through these efforts, each organization hopes to see high turnout on Nov. 5.

“By having those important conversations, you are really able to drive home the importance of voting and reminding people that their voice matters,” Bourgeau said. “There isn’t just voter registration, there’s voter turnout.”