Pi Gamma Mu, an honors society at Wayne State College, held its biannual Voting Drive in the Student Center last week. 

Randy Bertolas, who is the faculty advisor for Pi Gamma Mu said the Voting Drive is a very important type of event, as it is a public service that informs students about one of their civic duties, as well as gets them registered to vote. It is designed to make voter registration simple and easy and works as an alternative to standing in lines to register elsewhere.  

The event is coordinated with the Wayne County Clerk, Deb Finn, and is open to all students on campus. The event is non-partisan, so students can register for whichever party they wish. Some offices that students registered to vote for were the Federal offices in Congress, the State Board of Education and the State Treasurer.  

Bertolas said that while between 70 to 100 students came out to the drive, he said the numbers typically rise to around 120 to 150 in election years.  

“I don’t care if you plan to vote for a Libertarian Martian,” he said. “Just vote. People have died so you can vote. It’s silly to bypass it.” 

Lilli Thompson, a student at WSC, was there to help with the Voting Drive.  

“The voter registration booth was a fun and educational experience for myself,” Thompson said. “The County Clerk’s office had two volunteers themselves who were brilliant and kind. They answered all and any questions that were asked, and really informed me of the voting process.”  

She said it was exciting as she was able to engage her fellow students about voting and help them realize their voice matters.  

“As voting is the foundation of democracy, it is our number one duty as a citizen,” Thompson said. “By being a registered voter, it allows people to voice their opinions and have a say in their communities. Being able to volunteer for an event like this was interesting, as it made me realize that everyone has an impact in the world, both big and small.” 

Pi Gamma Mu is an international honor society in the social sciences, and they have many different events held throughout the year beyond the Voter Drive. For more information, contact Randy Bertolas at [email protected], or go to the Pi Gamma Mu page at wsc.edu.