After a tumultuous election season in the U.S., we are just over a month away from the 2024 presidential election. Amid President Joe Biden’s historic withdrawal of his bid for reelection and his subsequent endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, many citizens have been left feeling unsettled and uncertain as the clock ticks down to Nov. 5.
With Election Day rapidly approaching, many state and local organizations have begun their mission of voter education. The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is among these organizations seeking to better educate state residents on the importance of civic duty. NYPIRG was founded in 1976 with a core mission of public outreach and student activism–values which continue to resonate with new generations of New Yorkers today.
Here at SUNY New Paltz, where the majority of students are eligible to vote in both local and national elections, the need for voter education has become especially important in the era of social media bias and misinformation. Eric Wood, campus organizer for NYPIRG, feels that the need for “in person, peer-to-peer voter education is very important, not only in the parlance of our times of mixed and lost messaging in the social media world, but also because voting rights and information regarding election education may vary from district to district.”
“For instance, someone may make a social media post about having to carry identification to vote to their polls. While this is true in some states, it is not a requirement here in New York State,” Wood explained.
It can be difficult to differentiate the truth on social media during election season. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, assured users that the company is taking the necessary precautions to prevent election misinformation. “No tech company does more or invests more to protect elections online than Meta,” said Nick Clegg, president of Global Affairs at Meta.
SUNY New Paltz students are not limited to just national-level elections, although the idea of participating in a large-scale election can be overwhelming to many. “Anyone feeling turned off about voting is probably focused on the presidential race. There are many other local races on the ballot that students can focus on,” Wood said.
For a number of students, the upcoming presidential election is one of the first elections they are eligible to participate in. Feelings of worry, excitement and uncertainty are the most common.
“I feel a little nervous,” said first-year English major Kate Gristina. “I think that this election is very important, especially because it’s my first. I want to do my research and understand the policies on the side that I’m voting for.”
Student members of NYPIRG can often be found giving classroom presentations to New Paltz students or outside the Humanities building, encouraging new voters like Gristina.
Students looking to get involved with NYPIRG can attend weekly meetings in Student Union Building 416, held at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays, or stay up to date through @nypirgnpz on Instagram.