How one Calvin University student is helping other students register to vote in Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As next month’s election approaches, a student-led initiative at Calvin University is helping out-of-state students register to vote in Michigan.

Jack Klop, a junior at Calvin University, wants to make his ballot count for next month’s election in the same area as his college.

“As an out-of-state student from California, I was interested in voting in the local elections here in Michigan and being connected to the community here in Grand Rapids,” Klop said.

But Klop said that when he tried to register to vote online, he experienced some confusion.

“I struggled to be registered as a Michigan resident,” Klop said.

He also knew he likely wasn’t the only one on campus with similar challenges.

“A lot of students, this is their first time being able to vote. They just turned 18 and they’re living in a new state, so it’s a new process for them,” Klop said.

Now, he’s helping make the process less difficult for other out-of-state students on campus.

In collaboration with the Calvin University Service-Learning Center, Klop has created an initiative that allows students to easily access proof of Michigan residency through the university’s housing office.

“They have a template form that they can print off that is proof the student has been living here for 30 days, they have a mailing address, they are a resident here,” said Annie Mas-Smith, director of the Calvin University Service-Learning Center.

The students then receive free transportation to the Grand Rapids city clerk’s office, where they can register to vote and fill out an absentee ballot.

“I didn’t bring a car to campus, and it’s been a limiting factor for me at times,” Klop said. “I’m so happy we can offer that to students and make it more accessible.”

One of the students who registered to vote on Thursday is John Goodman, a senior at Calvin University, who is from Illinois but has mostly lived in Michigan over the last four years.

“I think it’s important for me to vote here. An interesting thing is Michigan is a swing state and Illinois is not. So it kind of feels like my vote can have more of an impact here,” Goodman said.

Leaders at Calvin University said it’s exciting to see students load up a van to participate in democracy.

“It’s part of the experience, going to college, growing up, learning all these things that you have the right and freedom to do,” Mas-Smith said.

Klop said the initiative is also bringing people on campus closer together.

“It’s been fun getting to know where students are from and learn more about them and why they are excited to vote,” Klop said.

The initiative will continue in the days leading up to Nov. 5.

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