By
Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Many responding favorably to Prop. 301, Graff says
While many students are still deciding who and what to vote for in tomorrow's election, others are providing last-minute information to the UA and Tucson community in the hopes of getting their vote.
The Arizona Students Association hosted a "day of action" Saturday morning, with about 15 University of Arizona undergraduate and graduate students spread out to different Tucson areas to encourage residents to vote in favor of Proposition 301.
Students from Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University joined in the efforts as well, said Kelly Dalton, ASA co-director and a political science senior.
"That's the power behind ASA, to be able to have a state-wide effort to get everyone excited about Prop. 301," she said.
Proposition 301, if passed, will increase Arizona's sales tax to 5.6 percent and raise $444 million the first year for the state's public education budget.
The UA would receive about $15 million the first year.
Associated Students President Ben Graff said that the volunteers were not focusing on houses and apartment complexes that are occupied by students, but reached out to middle-aged and elderly residents at North Campbell Avenue and East River Road, instead.
Graff, a psychology senior, said that they handed out about 1,000 fliers and hung Proposition 301 door hangers on homes where residents were gone.
"Even though some people were concerned with the tax increase, they changed their mind when they found out it was aimed towards education," Graff said. "I, personally, did not get any negative feedback from anyone."
The volunteers knocked on doors and distributed materials until 1 p.m., when they ran out of materials, which worked out because it began to rain, Graff added.
Dalton said that she is confident Proposition 301 will pass and that party affiliation won't matter. Most Arizona residents will vote for it, she said.
"Prop. 301 is a non-partisan issue," she said. "It's about education, which everyone is concerned about."
ASA and ASUA will rent vans tomorrow to shuttle students to nearby polls from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"Students who want to vote should meet us at the flagpole behind Old Main and make sure they bring their ID and voter registration card," Graff said.
The UA Young Democrats are also hoping for last-minute decisions to be made in their favor, said Melinda Mills, the club's president.
"We are not giving up until the polls close (tomorrow) night," said Mills, a political science junior.
Members of the club will continue to post signs on street corners and pass out fliers on the UA Mall to encourage voting for the Democratic candidates.
Volunteers will also be standing at the voting polls tomorrow handing out literature about the Democrats running for office.
"Many people do not have their decision made when they get to the polls, so if they read information about the Democratic candidates, they may be influenced," Mills said.
Manuel Espinoza, College Republicans president and political science junior, said they will keep pushing their "operation campus blanket" effort to spread information about the Republican candidates.
The College Republicans are also presenting Jim Kolbe, who will be speaking at the University Park Marriot hotel, 880 E. Second St.
"It'll be a really cool and huge party for Congressman Kolbe," Espinoza said.
