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The Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU) is working to register 2,510 Portland State students to vote by January 5th for Oregon’s January 25th special election, in which about $733 million in tax dollars could go to the state’s public education system. The registration drive is held in conjunction with the Oregon Student Association, an organization founded by students over 30 years ago to represent the interests of students in postsecondary education to Oregon lawmakers.

The registration drive is motivated by several upcoming ballot measures that would repeal taxes on businesses and individuals, possibly pulling millions of dollars from the state’s General Fund where the higher education budget comes from, said ASPSU President Jonathan Sanford.

“The general fund is discretionary, meaning that it’s not mandatory to fund higher education,” Sanford said. “The current state budget was built based on revenue from these taxes and if they are repealed, the budget will be significantly altered.”

Dorothy Zapf, a volunteer with the ASPSU Voter Registration Drive, said that it is important for students to register to vote because when students vote they gain legitimacy with lawmakers. 

“The more students vote, the more power we have with lawmakers, and that can equal lower tuition,” she said. 

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