By Sarah Mcsparin

As part of a statewide effort to increase voter turnout among college students, the office of Secretary of State Trey Grayson is hosting a mock primary at the University of Louisville Thursday.

Using electronic voting machines, students will be able to cast their mock votes for governor and lieutenant governor candidates in the Democratic or Republican primary. The event is will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Activities Center.

“Civic literacy is weak on college campus,” said SGA Services Vice President Justin Tooley, a junior political science major. “It is important that students know about candidates, how to vote and where to vote.

Volunteers from SGA, the McConnell Center, College Republicans and College Democrats will assist students who want to register to vote in their home precincts.

“I think that civic education should be an integral component in our college education. I support any kind of activity that encourages civic participation,” said Derek Jones, a sophomore political science major.

The actual Kentucky primary election will be May 22.

“The primary falls on the cusp of summer and immediately before Memorial Day Weekend, a time when most young people are not thinking about elections,” Grayson stated in a press release.

“My hope is that in hosting mock primaries, we will increase awareness of the elections and remind college age students that their voices are important,” he stated.

Currently, Grayson is in charge of the Civic Literacy Initiative of Kentucky, a program that is trying to develop a policy for improving state civic literacy and obligation.

One of the plan’s initiatives is to get students involved in the political process.

The mock primary at U of L is part of a statewide mock primary tour, in which six other Kentucky universities will participate.

“Hopefully, events like this mock primary election will make students take notice and help get them engaged in their responsibility as a citizen of Kentucky,” said Courtney Bray, a junior art major. “It is exciting to see that politicians are noticing students and realizing how important their vote is.”

Members of SGA emphasize that faculty and staff are also welcome to the event.

For more information on the candidates running for governor and Grayson’s program, visit http://www.sos.ky.gov/.