Missouri State University’s Paws to the Polls (PTTP) organization has stayed busy with its voter education and engagement activities, as the election year has seen an increase in campaigns and voter interest.

Campus voter fair a big success

On Feb. 15, PTTP welcomed Representative Melanie Stinnett (R) of District 133 to meet with them on campus. The group discussed voting access and how legislators can work together across the aisle in Jefferson City.

The meeting was a precursor to PTTP’s voting fair, which it hosted on the Missouri State campus March 5 to bring attention to the April municipal election.

Over 400 students and 16 campus offices and organizations participated in the fair to demonstrate how they engage with the campus and the larger community.

Food, fun and voting facts

Joining the fair were the League of Women Voters, the Informed Voter Coalition and Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller.

The League and the County Clerk’s office registered students to vote and answered voting-related questions.

Schoeller and his team also brought voting equipment so students could use the machines and become acquainted with the voting process.

Along with providing important voter information, PTTP ensured there was plenty of food and fun for participants.

Pickleman’s Gourmet Café provided free cookies, while PTTP provided pizza. Meanwhile, participants enjoyed a photo booth where they could get their pictures taken with Boomer the Bear, Schoolhouse Rock’s Bill and Pickleman’s Big Dill.

Attendees also played voting and trivia games for prizes and decorated their PTTP shirts at a tie-dye booth.

PTTP will host another voter fair in October ahead of the 2024 general election.

Preparing Springfield for the municipal election

PTTP sponsored a local election candidate forum March 27 in the Parliamentary Room of the Plaster Student Union

The organization estimates over 100 people attended the event, to standing-room only capacity.

In preparation, PTTP students created a “What’s on Your Ballot” voter guide by developing questions to ask local school board candidates. All seven school board candidates responded.

PTTP distributed both print and electronic versions of the voter guide at the forum.

Local news covered the event, and the entire forum was recorded.

For the April 2 election itself, PTTP members were on hand outside the central polling location at the Welcome Center to answer questions and hand out “I voted” buttons.

Fundraising and a new logo

PTTP worked with two students, Lora Spinabella and Amber Dudenhoeffer, from Dr. Maria Gerasimchuk-Djordjevic’s Professional Design Practicum (DES 490) class to design a new logo and branding kit.

The group also worked with art and design professor Aleksandra Wiecierzewska and her Brick City Design Studio student Noah Huettenmeyer to produce this year’s local election voter guide.

PTTP enjoyed its collaboration with the Department of Art and Design, and they didn’t miss a chance to talk about voter registration in the process. They took the opportunity to set up voter registration tables at two locations at Brick City March 4.

“The Power of the Vote”

The organization wrapped up April with its “The Power of the Vote” trivia night fundraiser April 19 at Q Enoteca wine bar.

The event was at maximum capacity for the venue. PTTP’s mascot, “The Bill” from Schoolhouse Rock, was on hand to pose for photos with guests.

Members of the winning team, The 3 Amigos, received PTTP’s Vote Tote filled with swag.

PTTP will host another trivia fundraiser this fall.

News submitted by Oscar Peterson, Grace Wasson and Suzanne Walker-Pacheco and edited by Reynolds College Communications team.