By: Kalyn Jackson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On Sept. 15 the Washington County Election Commission voted to approve Bud Walton Arena as an early voting site for the 2020 Election.
With seven days to go until the Nov. 3 general election date, it is critical that everyone has access to vote.
“The University has been trying to get approved as a polling site since 2008, so every other effort in the past has been difficult,” said Associated Student Government Student Body President Julia Nall, “The Mayor, Chancellor Steinmetz and other University leadership’s support was really helpful throughout the process.”
Associated Student Government Election Commission, Director of Municipal Relations Billie Firmin was also an integral part in securing Bud Walton Arena as a polling site for this year’s election.
“This has been in the works for a really long time with ASG,” said Firmin. “ Having this on campus voting site improves accessibility to voting for students especially in the time of a COVID pandemic.”
Firmin added she was thrilled when Bud Walton was approved by the Washington County Election Commission.
“It was so awesome to see all the work that people did before come into fruition,” said Firmin. “I would not have been able to get this done without them laying the groundwork.”
Firmin added she thinks students will take advantage of the early on campus voting site.
“The novelty of being able to go to Bud Walton and vote was kinda cool,” said Firmin, “I really hope students will turn out because if we get a good voter turnout this year it will make it easier to get that as a polling place for elections to come.”
The polling station also offered voters the choice of on site registration change for Arkansas voters not registered in Washington County.
Freshman Leadership Forum ASG Agent and voting volunteer, Jordyn Releford said the on site address registration was helpful and many people took advantage of it.
“Making sure the voters that aren’t registered in Washington County change their address is number one on our list, because that can be a vote disqualifier,” said Releford.
Nall added the voter turnout was unlike anything she had seen before.
“It’s definitely more young people than I have ever seen at any precinct when I’ve gone and
voted before,” said Nall. “There has also been noticeably a lot of staff and faculty.”
“It’s really amazing how this year they opened Bud Walton,” said Releford. “Being able to see the voter turnout and the behind the scenes has been cool for me as a first time voter myself .”
Bud Walton voting officials and ASG Student Body President Julia Nall reported a grand total of 2,691 early voters that took part in voting at the Bud Walton Arena.
University of Arkansas students explain what their experience was like voting on campus. Click here to hear what students had to say.