Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Voting Made Easier at MDC
Miami Dade College is partnering with the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization Democracy Works to bring TurboVote to MDC students, faculty and staff. This automated voting service is coming to MDC at the perfect time — a presidential election year. Even if you are already registered to vote, I urge you to sign up for TurboVote and take advantage of the service’s many great features, including simplified and streamlined absentee voting, and upcoming election reminders.
Dubbed the "Netflix for Voter Registration" due to its ease of use, TurboVote offers the College community several key benefits, all in a free one-stop shop:
- TurboVote allows you to easily register to vote online.
- TurboVote lets you verify online whether you are already registered to vote or update your voter registration.
- Through TurboVote, you can request pre-filled registration/absentee forms by mail.
- For every local, state and federal election, TurboVote sends timely text messages and email reminders to ensure that you never miss a deadline, whether you go to the polls in person or cast ballots by mail.
Voting is one of our constitutional rights and vital to our nation's democracy. TurboVote simplifies the voting process so that voters can focus on what’s important: the candidates and questions on the ballot. However, like any other initiative, participation is pivotal. If you did not sign up for this free service during the April TurboVote rally, you can register online now.
On Sept. 17, MDC will host the Making Democracy Count rally. This event offers a prime opportunity to learn more about TurboVote, while enjoying live entertainment and an exciting roster of guest speakers. We will share additional details with you in the coming weeks.
As the largest institution of higher education in the country, MDC has a responsibility to promote democratic ideals and serve as an example of civic duty. MDC is not only the first local college or university to introduce TurboVote to Greater Miami residents, but also the first community college in the nation to use this service.
I would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for their generous support in making this valuable resource available to MDC. Granting our students, faculty and staff access to a tool that will increase participation in future elections emphasizes our responsibility as citizens of this great democracy.
See you at the polls,
Eduardo