‘Everyone should make their voice heard’: Voter registration efforts ramping up

Franklin Community Co-op Outreach and Communications Manager Caitlin von Schmidt and Graphic Designer Jenna Robinson outside the co-op’s community space in downtown Greenfield, where they were offering support with voter registration on Tuesday. FOR THE RECORDER/ADA DENENFELD KELLY

Greenfield Community College President Michelle Schutt in front of the voter registration table on Tuesday. FOR THE RECORDER/ADA DENENFELD KELLY

Greenfield Community College students line up for free ice cream floats for National Voter Registration Day served by Student Activities Coordinator Sara Allred. Meanwhile, League of Women Voters members Jean Cherdack and Ruth Odom offer assistance and answer questions regarding voter registration. FOR THE RECORDER/ADA DENENFELD KELLY

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

For the Recorder

Published: 09-19-2024 1:03 PM

GREENFIELD — To Caitlin von Schmidt, supporting community members with voter registration is a divisive thing to do. But to her, and to similar volunteers across the country, it is nevertheless important to provide this assistance.

“I do understand that, in this particular time, just even saying you’re registering people to vote can be fraught. There’s so much divisiveness,” said von Schmidt, the outreach and communications manager at Franklin Community Co-op that operates Green Fields Market in Greenfield and McCusker’s Market in Shelburne Falls. “People think you’re taking a side, but … it’s a non-partisan effort. … We’re not trying to get anyone to vote a particular way, we’re just trying to get them to be registered.”

Like thousands of partners across the country, von Schmidt and her Franklin Community Co-op colleague Jenna Robinson set up a table on Tuesday in the co-op’s community space in downtown Greenfield to offer free assistance registering to vote. Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day, and the holiday was officially recognized in Greenfield by Mayor Ginny Desorgher in an effort to promote voter turnout.

“It makes me sad when people are checked out and don’t vote,” von Schmidt added. “I think everyone should make their voice heard.”

The Franklin County chapter of the League of Women Voters also set up a table Tuesday. Volunteers Ruth Odom and Jean Cherdack spent the day at Greenfield Community College, helping students check the status of their voter registration, fielding questions, and offering support with registration or re-registration. Free ice cream floats and raffles for merchandise sporting slogans such as “Vote!” were also included in the college’s celebration.

Odom and Cherdack explained that although they expected the majority of students to already be registered to vote due to a series of efforts to increase voter registration, such as the ability to register while renewing one’s driver’s license and the ability to pre-register at the age of 16, they expected to see students who might be unsure of their registration status or needing to update their registration after an address change.

GCC staff emphasized the importance of voter registration efforts ahead of the November presidential election.

“In light of all that’s going on with our elections, and the preservation of democracy, it’s absolutely essential that we all vote,” said GCC President Michelle Schutt. “There are lots of feelings about this election, and it’s really important to not just have those feelings but to act on them and vote for the person you feel is the best choice.”

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