My View: A Gen Z perspective on why Arizona needs same-day voter registration

The original deadline to register to vote in Arizona’s general election was Oct. 5. It was extended to Oct. 23 but was later changed to Oct. 15. Since the extension, The Arizona Students’ Association (ASA) registered 148 students and counting across the state.

The deadline was originally extended due to the pandemic and the effects it had on different organizations like ASA and volunteers who helped people register to vote.

The Arizona Students’ Association fellows, staff and volunteers have been working hard this year getting students registered to vote. ASA is a statewide organization with a fellowship program of over 35 students at the state's major universities; Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.

Before the pandemic, ASA registered voters in person by using clipboards on campus, setting up tables, holding in-person class raps, and knocking on doors at college apartments and dorms.

Since the pandemic, ASA had to change strategies and shifted to registering students to vote online. ASA dropped off flyers at college apartments hoping that students would be able to walk themselves through the voter registration process. ASA also jumped on college Zoom classes and sent out links to register to vote, as well as texted students links to update and register their voter registration. We also had multiple digital ads running on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Hulu.

Kyle Nitschke the organizing director for ASA said: “95% of our voter registration has moved online post-pandemic. All of our class raps are virtual, and we don't bring paper forms door-to-door to prevent spread. The extension has definitely given us more time to help get even more students to register to vote because that’s the mission that we have right now. We want to increase the young vote compared to past elections where young voices seem to disappear. There is so much at stake in this year’s election and as students and the young generation, we can’t afford to not vote. Although it’s not the same, we have seen good results from the class raps, digital advertising, and text-banking strategies we have been pushing before and after the extension.

“There have already been thousands of registrations since the extension," he added. "We should take the next step and push our legislators to pass a bill enabling same-day voter registration in Arizona."

After the extension and experience of ASA’s increase in voter registration, Executive Director Cesar Aguilar said: “We must push for automatic voter registration, Election Day voter registration, any policy that makes it easier to be able to vote. U.S. citizens turn out to vote for millions of different reasons, and by missing deadlines, citizens could be stripped of that right to vote. Students juggle so much by working, attending classes, doing homework, getting involved, and voting sometimes becomes the least important thing in a college student's life. That last-minute extension as we have seen allowed 148 students in Arizona the right to voice their opinion this election.”

With this extension, we are giving a voice to those whose voices don’t get heard all the time. We are the future of the next generation, and the only way change can happen is through voting and demanding a bright future. The last day to register to vote in Arizona has passed, but what’s even more important is voting early or finding your nearest polling location on Election Day. We are all counting on you.