On April 11, Paws to the Polls made its third trip to Jefferson City to speak with legislators, the second one for this semester and legislative session. There are many ways to take action on supporting or opposing current legislation, but repeated feedback from legislators indicates that nothing beats a  personal visit to the capital.

 

On each trip to Jefferson City, all participants learn an incredible amount, meet new legislators, and reconnect with ones previously visited with. The students do an amazing job of representing our campus, diplomatically relaying key information to the legislators.

 

The group went to support a variety of House bills from both Democratic and Republican legislators that would restore/allow greater access to voting for college and high school students of voting age and those that permit people who have completed their prison sentence to vote while under community supervision (probation or parole) and make it more feasible for those in jail who are otherwise fully eligible to vote, to do so. It is also important to express concerns about other elections-related bills, which the students also did effectively.

 

The beautiful weather and chance run-in with a representative from Republic the group met on a previous visit led to a wonderful tour that included climbing the many steps up to the outside of the dome. If you know of students who may be interested in joining Paws to the Polls in its quest to increase civic engagement on campus and provide nonpartisan sources of information, please have them email pawstothepolls@missouristate.edu