By james art RISE hosted its Early Voting Block Party on Tuesday at the Library Mall, marking the start of early voting in Wisconsin. This nonpartisan celebration aimed to bring together students and organizations to promote civic engagement through a day filled with food, games and educational activities.
RISE, the organization behind the event, is a nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing young voters, said RISE Field organizer AJ Dehnke. RISE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit campus organization whose goal is to mobilize young voters by providing them with the information and resources they need to make informed voting decisions consistent with their values, Dehnke said.
“We’re not telling people how to vote — we just want to make sure everyone has the information and resources to make informed decisions that reflect their values,” Dehnke said. “Voting is important because it is your vote. If you don’t vote, you lose your voice in our democracy.”
The event featured an array of activities such as inflatables, yard games and pumpkin painting.
Students and Madison residents attending the event could earn tickets by visiting various booths, participating in activities and learning about their 2024 ballot. These tickets could then be exchanged for sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks .
Various campus organizations were located around the Library Mall with prizes and interactive booths, including Fuego Dance Crew, Amnesty International, The Wisco Project, Swim Club UW, Sex Out Loud, Nordic Team, Student Voters Union, WSUM Student Radio and Pi Lambda Psi.
Union of Student Voters president Amanjot Kaur said their job as a non-partisan organization is to promote civic engagement among students and advocate for voting rights in an inclusive environment.
“RISE has brought together a bunch of student organizations on campus to come together and get people excited about early voting as it starts today and get them to show up for this important election that’s coming up right now,” Kaur said.
In-person absentee voting will continue in the two weeks leading up to Election Day on November 5. Madison residents can learn more about polling locations and availability through MyVote Wisconsin.