Category: Mason Learns

Meet U. S. Sen. Bernie Sanders | Oct. 28th GMU Student Town Hall

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will be hosting a National Student Town Hall meeting with George Mason University students. The town hall meeting will be live streamed online to be viewed on college campuses across the country.

Sanders will focus on issues affecting young people, such as tuition-free higher education at public colleges, climate change, women’s rights, money in politics, racial justice, and criminal justice system reform.

The National Student Town Hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 28th at the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) on the George Mason University Fairfax Campus. Doors open at 6:00pm, and the meeting will begin at 7:00pm.

Tickets are required to attend, and will be distributed at the George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall on two occasions:

Monday, October 26th | 4:00pm – 7:00pm
Tuesday, October 27th | 3:00pm – 6:00pm

The Bernie Sanders campaign team is seeking volunteers to help with ticket collection, crowd management, and answering questions. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, contact Tyler at [email protected].

First Look at 2016 Races with Tom Davis

Join former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) and moderator Robert Guttman, Director of Mason’s Center for Politics and Foreign Relations, as they review the 2014 mid-terms and look ahead to discuss who the possible candidates — Republican and Democrat — will be and how they are preparing to run for the Oval Office.

Davis, now Rector of George Mason University’s Board of Visitors, will join Guttman in examining who the new, post-mid-term political “stars” are and how they will factor in the race for the White House in 2016.

Where: GMU – Arlington Campus, Founders Hall Room 118

When: Thursday, November 20 at 5:30 PM

This event is free and open to the community. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to [email protected]

From The Office of Community & Local Government Relations – Arlington Campus

Live Coverage 2014 Election

#WhyMidtermsMatter Samuel Carpenter

Fairfax County-3 Easy Ways to Check Voter Status

Fairfax County voters now have three easy ways to check voter registration status, poll location and other vital information before heading out to vote in the June 11 primary. To access your specific voter information, you will need to enter your Social Security Number or Voter ID Number (on your voter registration card).

1. Call the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 703-222-0776 (TTY 711). This 24/7 phone system enables you to confirm your voter registration status, your poll location and get answers to the 10 most frequently asked questions – when it is convenient for you. If you would like to talk to someone in the Office of Elections, call Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday until 7 p.m.

2. Download the Free Fairfax County Mobile App. Find the free app on the county’s mobile page or by searching Fairfax County Government on Google Play or the Apple App Store. Once you download and launch the Fairfax County app, look for the vote icon. Using the app, you will be able to find your poll location and driving directions to get there, check that you are registered at your correct address and link to the Office of Election’s website for easy access to other vital information.

3. Visit the Virginia State Board of Elections Website for voter registration status, ballot information, poll location, ID requirements and more.

For more information online, visit the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

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Virginia Primary Election Day June 11, 2013

All 237 polls in Fairfax County are open Tuesday, June 11, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., for the Democratic Primary. The primary is open to all registered voters. The ballot includes Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general and, in the 86th District, for a member of the House of Delegates. The Republican candidates were chosen at a state convention held in Richmond last month.

Fairfax County Public Schools are still in session. If your poll is at a school location, please be cautious when driving in that area, especially in the morning and afternoon when buses are unloading or loading and the students are walking or being dropped off.

Make sure you are ready to vote by taking these steps:

Bring a Form of ID to Poll: List from the Virginia State Board of Elections.

Make Sure You Know Your Polling Place: There are three easy ways to check your poll location and other important information.

Review Your Sample Ballot.

Unofficial election results will be available from the Office of Elections. Unofficial returns are updated throughout the night as the precincts report in after the polls close at 7 p.m. Only Fairfax County returns are available on this website. Statewide returns will be available from the Virginia State Board of Elections.

2013 State of the Union Feb. 12 – 9PM

Tonight, February 12, 2013, at 9PM EST President Obama will speak to Congress for the annual State of the Union address. Please share your feedback, thoughts and report card of the State of the Union on the MasonVotes Twitter page using the #MasonVotes and on the MasonVotes facebook page.

Where to watch:
c-span.org/SOTU
foxnews.com/sotu
NPR Special Live Coverage
Politico Sstate-of-the-union-203
whitehouse.gov/sotu

Infographic comparing the U.S. in 1913 to the U.S. in 2013

The State of the Union: 1913 vs. 2013 infographic by amccartney.

The 51st State To Be

Photo by: cia.gov

During this week’s general election, 54% of Puerto Ricans voted in favor of becoming the 51^st state of the US. Currently, this island is deemed a territory whose citizens hold American passports and use the US dollar, but do not have voted representation in the US Congress and are not fully protected by the Constitution.
Though, this was a nonbinding referendum and before any change can be implemented, the US Congress must approve. However, President Obama has said that he will respect the decision of the Puerto Rican people. Once the island does become a state, they will have to pay federal taxes and will be able to participate in all US elections.

Puerto Rico became a US territory in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American war. Eventually its inhabitants gained American citizenship and the ability to serve in the military.

While many would prefer full independence, complete statehood is the second best option. Currently the unemployment rate is above 13% and receiving the full benefits and protections of being a state, is hoped to increase economic recovery.

Youth Votes Determines 80 Electoral Votes

According to a CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, which conducts research on the civic and political engagement of young Americans, the youth vote influenced 80 electoral votes in the November 6, 2012 election, enough to sway the election results for either candidate. Their research shows that voting maters and even small numbers can and do make the difference. See the full post here on their website.

Nov7_YouthVoteDiff_4state_FINAL — CIRCLE exiting polling results of 2012 youth vote

According to CIRCLE, “EARLY EXIT POLLS: Youth Represent 19% of Voters, Up 1 Point from 2008“, in a survey published by CIRCLE. See full text here.

Student Gov’t 2012 Exit Polling Results

The GMU Student Government conducted exit polling on Election Day, November 6, 2012, at George Mason University’s University Hall polling place (precinct 134). 263 voters were surveyed with approximately 1 in 5 voters being asked to take part in the survey and 116 people refusing to answer. Here are the results:

For a copy of the survey as a pdf file click here. The actual result of the polling place as reported by the Virginia State Board of Elections were as follows.