Ann Arbor – University of Michigan students turned out this Tuesday for the Nov. 3 General Election, voting in record numbers at student precincts across campus. On average, student voters increased turnout by 450 percent. At one polling location, South Quad, the increase in turnout was more than 775 percent.

At the time of this release, student voter turnout increased by 555 percent at the Coliseum polling location, an increase from 31 voters in 2007 to 203 voters in 2009.

The College Democrats at the University of Michigan (UMCD) attribute this rise in turnout to their increased get-out-the-vote-efforts in key student precincts. The UMCD have been encouraging students to vote in support of Proposal I, the Washtenaw Country School Enhancement Millage.

“We’ve passed out more than 5,000 sample ballots, went door-to-door in nearly all student neighborhoods, and called thousands of students, urging them to support education funding,” Samuel Marvin the Chair of UMCD said. “We want students to know their voices matter—especially on the local issues that affect them most.”

2007 was the last year no state-level or national-level initiatives were on the ballot. Turnout in these types of elections is typically very low; only two individuals voted in the Markley precinct in 2007.

“We’re excited to see so many students engaged in the process,” Marvin said. “It shows they care about the community they live in.”

Percentage Increase by Polling Location

Union (Ward 1.1 & 1.2)                                        210%
Community High School (Ward 1.3)               200%
Community Center (Ward 1.4)                            229%
Markley (Ward 2.2)                                               750%
East Quad (Ward 3.1 & 3.2)                                296%
South Quad (Ward 4.1)                                        775%
Mary Street (Ward 4.2)                                        166%
Coliseum (Ward 4.3)                                            555%
Ann Arbor  District Library (Ward 5.1)           339%