KU News Release

KU Libraries offers voter registration, election information resources

LAWRENCE — In an effort to encourage eligible individuals to vote in the upcoming election, KU Libraries is offering information and resources at www.lib.ku.edu/vote.

Resources include information to assist students in determining how and where they must register and links to nonpartisan voter registration instructions and deadlines by state.

“If you’ve turned on a television, scanned the headlines of a newspaper, listened in on conversations in coffee shops or just taken a drive down a residential street lately, you know it’s inescapable. News and talk of the upcoming elections are everywhere,” said library assistant Erin Pfannenstiel. “Still, many find reasons not to go to the polls. They think that their vote won’t make a difference, they don’t feel they know enough to make an informed decision or they simply let the deadline slip by without getting registered.”

In addition to registration information, the KU Libraries Web site offers tools to help voters become informed on candidates and election issues. The site includes a link to the 2008 Presidential Election Custom Search Engine, www.lib.ku.edu/election2008, a free resource created by KU librarian Amalia Monroe, where there is background information on the presidential elections, introductions to specific topics (campaign finance, media and public opinion polls) and more.

Voters interested in exploring election issues are also encouraged to use the Ask a Librarian service to access the wealth of information and resources available from KU Libraries. Visit www.lib.ku.edu/askalibrarian to get started.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.