Last week, ASPSU released the results of their supposedly nonpartisan voter registration drive. Since fall term, volunteers made presentations in classrooms and resident halls in an effort to increase the number of registered student voters.
The problem with being nonpartisan is that everyone has opinions and personal interests, regardless of what or whom they affiliate themselves with.
When an entire organization—such as ASPSU—claims a nonpartisan effort, one volunteer’s opinion can make the whole group appear suspect. When more than one volunteer expresses a specific opinion, it’s even worse.
Voter registration drives are supposed to be nonpartisan, and ASPSU made a point of telling people during the drive that they were acting as such. Yet various reports indicate that when volunteers spoke in classrooms, upcoming political issues entered the discussion. Specifically, the topic of Measures 66 and 67 was brought up, and only the “yes” side was explored—when the “no” side was mentioned, it was done so in a negative light.
Such actions constitute a deceptive and misleading effort to influence the votes of students. When a group frames their presentation of voter material during a registration drive, it compromises their nonpartisanship. It tends to stray from a genuine civic effort and lean toward persuasion.
It is perfectly appropriate for our student government to have a platform, or even promote specific agendas. Furthermore, it’s good that ASPSU is trying to get people involved, but they don’t need interrupt classes or troll resident halls to register voters. They don’t need to use the guise of a nonpartisan registration drive to further their own agenda. They have plenty opportunities and venues elsewhere to do so.
It is safe to say that ASPSU aims to benefit students as much as possible; they put in a serious effort for the greater good of Portland State. However, if they make a claim to be nonbiased, they should stick to it and make a concerted effort to assure that their volunteers refrain from influencing voters.
This is a civic-minded campus and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, including ASPSU volunteers. However, a nonpartisan voter registration drive is not the appropriate venue for spreading political agendas.
ASPSU has the right to voice an opinion, but they should do so ethically, not covertly.