On Oct. 29, the Rutgers Law School’s Voter's Rights Project and NJ PIRG held a rally on campus to encourage students and residents to vote in the election Nov 3.

Rutgers has been involved in city elections since 2004, when a group of law students started the Voter's Rights Project to educate voters and ensure that state elections laws are properly enforced.

"It is so vital that you vote in this and every other election," Student Government Vice President Sean Brown told the crowd. "Not voting is the same as voting for someone you disagree with.”

Law students held voter registration drives at community events and put themselves at the polls on election days. This fall, the project registered around 100 voters at 15 events and recently won a public service award at a national Equal Justice Works conference for their work.

For the first time this election, a handful of selected students were given responsibilities such as checking the validity of challenge votes, fixing broken voting machines and making sure that campaigners keep their distance from the polls.

"Regardless of who you vote for, vote," student government president Jon Maddison urged the crowd in front of the campus library.


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