The Office of Student Life and Civic Engagement hosted voting registration last Tuesday at the Cook Carillon Tower. Government partners from Ottawa County and Allendale Township were at the event, assisting students in registering.
The Michigan Secretary of State sponsored a registration booth as the main promotion to get students registered to vote. Various student and Greek-life organizations were also in attendance to emphasize the importance of voting-rights education for students.
Many event attendees registered to vote for the first time. As of the Fall 2025 semester, the University has 1,576 out-of-state students, with many coming to the clock tower to register. The Michigan government allows residents of at least 30 days to register in order to vote in the state, granting easy access for college students who have recently relocated. In addition to registering, students at the event lined up to ask questions about upcoming elections.
Students who were already registered to vote enjoyed playing games, eating snacks and socializing. Some were there simply because of their belief in the importance of voting. One student, Katie Ledsack, brought friends to the event so they could register.
“I think it’s really important to do your due diligence,” Ledsack said. “Voting is a way to do that, and it’s a way to take part in the community, politics and go for things that represent you (and your values).”
Nastaciea Robert, an alumna of Grand Valley State University’s healthcare administration program and representative of Delta Sigma Theta, returned to campus to pitch in.
“Our goal is to really make sure we continue to educate our young people because they are the future,” Robert said. “They’re gonna be making a lot of decisions, not just for us, but for our legacy, our children and their children.”
The Lambda Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was chartered at the University in 1974, and became the first Black Greek-letter organization on campus. Speaking on behalf of alumni and current students, Robert said the chapter was excited to participate in the event, and was proud to foster conversations about civic duty.
“I believe at this age, especially (at the) collegiate level, you have a strong voice and you’re very, very influential,” Robert said. “We want to make sure that as we continue to deal with some very challenging times, (students are) educated, and have access to tools and resources.”
For students who were unable to attend, there are still resources for voter registration, which can be found on the GVSU Votes! homepage.
