“Have you had the opportunity to vote today?” Oldham County junior Elizabeth Trader asked students walking past Gilbert Hall. “Are you registered to vote in Bowling Green?”

For Trader, the response was often the same: the student wasn’t registered to vote in Warren County.

“Everyone makes a huge deal about ‘go out and vote,’” Trader said, standing in the Valley and holding a sign announcing the Ride to Vote campaign. “No one talks as much about getting registered.”

For this election, the Student Government Association partnered with Ride to Vote, providing rides to polls in Warren County for students on WKU’s campus. Trader heard about Ride to Vote from her friend and the project leader, Olive Hill junior Alexandria Knipp. Trader said she felt that it was a good way to get involved with the election “without being involved in the campaigns.”

“More so than my candidate winning, I just want people to vote,” Trader said.

Trader, however, found that many students could not use the Ride to Vote service, because they weren’t voting in Warren County.

“It doesn’t matter how many social media posts there are about voting,” Trader said. “If you’re not registered, you can’t vote.”

Reporter Monica Kast can be reached at 270-745-6011 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @monicakastwku.

READ MORE:

WKU retiree says students need to vote today

Married couple says they’re voting for Pence

Polls open, voters plan to change America

President Ransdell casts vote at Big Red precinct

COMMENTARY: A quick history of alcohol on Election Day

Ballot judge supports Trump, hopes people continue to vote

Married couple continues to cast vote for Democratic candidates

Students experience polling location confusion 

Polling location worker shares thoughts on today’s election

New Bowling Green resident shares voting excitement

Ride to Vote service starts off first year slow