Early voting shuttle for UWG students

Parking and Transportation Services provided a shuttle bus for students who wanted to early vote in the 2016 Presidential Elections.

Early voting lasted from Mon., Oct. 17-Fri., Nov. 4. The shuttle ran Tues., Oct. 18; Thurs., Oct. 20; Mon., Oct. 24; and Thurs., Oct. 27. Wade Crenshaw, Supervisor for Parking and Transportation Services, said these days were picked in order to give all students a chance to vote.

From noon to 3 p.m., the shuttle transported students from the University Community Center’s (UCC) bus stop and took them to the Carroll County Tax Commissioner on College Street. Though the bus ran on these days, the shuttle will not take students to early vote from Mon., Oct. 31-Fri., Nov. 4.

“We have to run our regular routes here on campus,” Crenshaw said. “Our main job is to provide students with transportation around campus. The shuttle we have to run is outside that. We have to have availability of equipment and the driver to do it.”

However, Crenshaw stated the bus will run from around 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tues., Nov. 8.

“Anybody that wants to go will have the opportunity,” Crenshaw said. “And we always hope everybody wants to go. Vote for who you want, but at least go vote.”

If students have to wait in a long line to vote, they do not have to worry about being left at the voting location.

“We won’t leave anybody there,” Crenshaw said. “If we take you out to early vote, then we’ll make sure that you get back.”

In addition, Crenshaw mentioned the voting shuttle was requested by the Student Government Association (SGA).

“It was a collaboration effort by several departments on campus along with SGA,” said SGA President Ethan Stiles. “Parking and Transportation has been incredible to work with. We all saw the need to provide students, faculty and staff with the means for transportation to vote.”

SGA posted information about the early voting shuttle on their OrgSync page, a website where students can join campus organizations and participate in campus activities. SGA also e-mailed roughly 1,100 students. However, the shuttle has not benefited all of them.

Though she thought it was a good idea and received an email about it last week, Candice Guthrie, a UWG senior, was not able to take advantage of the shuttle.

“I can’t even use it because all the times that it’s running, I will be in class,” Guthrie said.

Despite this, Stiles said the shuttle was still valuable.

“Parking and transportation was able to add a service for all members of the university without it being at cost for any unit on campus,” Stiles said. “It was an excellent effort.”

Even though the bus will not run the week of Oct. 31, Stiles recommends for all students to vote.

“They have the option to vote absentee,” Stiles said. “I highly encourage anyone and everyone to participate in all elections, but this election in particular. Drive, find a ride with a friend, vote absentee—do your best to participate.”

Early voting ends Fri., Nov. 4, and Election Day is Tues., Nov. 8. Students should bring a valid form of identification (driver’s license, voter ID, employee ID, passport, military ID, student ID, or a tribal ID) to the voting polls.

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