In the midst of voter apathy prevalent among college-age students aged 18-24, University of Colorado-Boulder graduate, Amy Charlton, is working to get about 1,000 students at DU to register before November’s election.

She is part of a major, non-partisan campaign, called “The New Voters Project,” sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Center for Public Interest Research and George Washington University. “The New Voters Project” will attempt to increase voter registration this year through on-campus and community recruitment.

Charlton, 23, who majored in political science at CU-Boulder, finds it “disheartening that voter participation among 18 to 24 year-olds has been decreasing” since 1971, when the 26th Amendment extended voting rights to 18 year-olds.

“Personally,” said Charlton, “I believe young people should be more engaged in the political process. There is such a low percentage of them involved in issues such as higher education costs, Medicare and prescription drugs. These issues are not being focused on. If we start paying attention, we can become a strong force together.”

“The New Voters Project” will be teaming up with Rock the Vote, Campus Compact, Youth Vote, Cast the Vote, Campaign for Young Voters and the World Wrestling Entertainment and Hip Hope Summit Action Network to help attract young voters. Here on campus, Charlton has spoken to the AUSA Senate and the Community Action Program (CAP).

In addition to registering 1,000 students here at DU, Charlton said, “The New Voters Project” will also try to get 60,000 people in Colorado to vote.

Along with Colorado, Wisconsin, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico and Iowa will be targeted for this major campaign. Charlton hopes to build a “wide base of support” here at DU.

An interest meeting will be held in Sturm Hall room 233 tomorrow night at 7. For more info., contact Amy Charlton at acharlton@newvotersproject.org .