RRC Hosts Back-To-College Night at Callie’s

 RRC Hosts Back-To-College Night at Callie’s

By Kami-Leigh Agard

On Friday, August 2—all college students, regardless of political leanings, undecided or even just curious to learn more about the voting process, are welcome to “Back-to-College Night at Callies,” hosted by the Rockaway Republican Club’s trifecta of political candidates: Tom Sullivan, Paul King and Mike O’Reilly.

According to Sullivan, himself a father of three running for NYS Assembly District 23—there’ll be no rallying political speeches, just a fun night for college students to learn about registering to vote and absentee ballots, ask candid questions in a noncritical environment, while indulging in Callie’s food and beverages, plus, music by Anthem.

College students are the next generation of voters. They are the most registered group in America, but don’t always make it to the polls. According to the U.S. Census, college students register at an 82% rate, while the rest of the country is registered at a 66.7% rate. However, only 66% of college students voted in 2020, resulting in a voter yield rate far below the national average.

Sullivan’s campaign manager, Tom Willis, said these stats and what the assembly candidate has heard firsthand from college students when campaigning throughout Rockaway and other parts of southeast Queens, are what inspired their Back-to-College Night event.

Willis said, “Tom knows it’s difficult for college kids to actually vote. He knows that students are very busy, whether they’re studying at school or abroad, working, playing sports and more. However, it’s very important that they get involved early and vote early, so they actually become part of the process. Their opinion and vote counts.

“That’s the whole point of this event. We want to make it as easy and painless for college kids to have the know-how to vote. In the last few years, NYS has passed laws for what is now known as Universal Mail-in Ballots, which means any anybody could request a mail-in ballot and just put it in the mail, days or even weeks before Election Day. It’s a very simple process. So, this Back-to-College Night event is catered to get students registered to vote and have access to an absentee ballot while in college.”

New York previously required voters to select a reason when applying to submit a mail-in ballot, including being absent from home, sick or disabled. However, in September of last year, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Early Mail Voting Act into law. According to NYS Board of Elections, now any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Applications requesting to receive an early mail ballot must be received by the board of elections in the county of residence no later than 10 days before the election. For early mail-in-ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by the county board no later than the day before the election.

Qualifications for absentee ballot include: absent from county of residence or, if a resident of NYC, absent from the five boroughs on Election Day; unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability; unable to appear because you are the primary caregiver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled; a resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.

Regarding the absentee ballot process, Sullivan said many college students don’t know where to start. “I’ve been engaging with younger audiences, and they are interested in voting. They’re just not sure how to do it. They’re going back to college. It’s a process, so this event is about educating them on the absentee ballot process, then it will be up to them to get started, which they’ll be able to do at Friday’s event.”

When asked what he thinks is the top issue college students are wrestling with in their decision to vote or not, Sullivan shared an eyeopener: political dissension at home.

“With the economy and inflation, college graduates are certainly getting their first experience trying to find a job and earn enough money to pay back student loans. However, college students are wondering why mom and dad, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, other family members are having these heated arguments over politics. The decorum has broken down.

“They’re not seeing these debates as being passionate or enthusiastic, but instead, volatile and divisive. Good discourse is not what is unfolding in front of them and they’re wondering why. They tend to back off because they don’t want to get in between an argument between two brothers, an uncle or aunt or any familial relationship over politics. So, getting involved in any discourse about politics becomes very discouraging,” he said.

Sullivan also emphasized that at the event, he wants college students to feel free to ask questions without feeling compelled to agree or stay silent.

“As adults we need to do a much better job at having these conversations with our kids without starting fights and being defensive. This is why our Back-to-College Night is going to foster the absolute opposite. There’ll be no political speeches to anger or rile up anyone. Paul, Mike and I will just talk with students in groups of three or four, listening to them. Hearing their voices in a non-combative setting. Just like their vote, their opinion counts,” he said.

Back-To-College Night at Callie’s (410 Beach 129th Street) is tomorrow, Friday, August 2, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Rep your college by wearing a college hat, t-shirt, sweatshirt and other memorabilia! $2 for buffet style food, soda and Gatorade. Plus, music by Anthem. To RSVP and for more information, call or text Tom Willis at (718) 734-8788.

Related post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *