Open Mike: Your Right, Your Voice, Your Vote

Dear Rackham Students, 

In the United States, the right to make your voice heard by voting is fundamental to our democratic society. That’s why I am urging all graduate students who are eligible to vote to do so on or before next Tuesday, November 8. 

Our Rack the Vote initiative is a nonpartisan resource to help all members of the Rackham community understand and navigate the requirements for voting in Michigan. Remember that if you are not yet registered to vote, you can still do so right up to the day of the election. (You can check your Michigan voter registration status online.) Also, any registered voter can vote before Election Day in Michigan.

Although international students are not eligible to vote, I know many of you are still interested in engaging with the U.S. election process. The U-M International Center provides several ideas for how you can do so. 

Other campus election resources include UMICH Votes, the Creative Campus Voting Project, Turn Up Turnout, and the U-M Democracy and Debate Initiative. The latter is an educational initiative that focuses in part on encouraging members of the U-M community to explore the exchange of ideas and free speech. 

Elections bring heartfelt discussions, debate, and organized events across the political spectrum to the foreground. However you choose to advocate, please remember that the freedom to voice our opinions and engage in intellectual exchange is a cornerstone of our academic mission.

For those of you who are eligible to vote, I hope you will take advantage of this important civil right and powerful outlet for expressing your points of view. Just as diversity is essential to our excellence as a graduate school, a democracy is at its best when all of its constituents engage. In this dynamic political climate, a critical and meaningful way to shape the issues that matter to you is by voting. I urge you to take the time to take part.

Sincerely,

Mike Solomon
Dean