Declare Yourself

Declare Yourself, a national nonpartisan, nonprofit young voter empowerment campaign, visited Fresno State in February to energize students to register and to vote in the 2004 election.

The Declare Yourself campaign included a live spoken word and music show, plus an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed on the night of July 4, 1776, which Declare Yourself is using as an inspirational symbol to rally young voters.

Approximately 1,000 people from the campus and community viewed the Declaration of Independence and student volunteers signed up 52 people to vote during the event. In addition, 600 students signed up to receive an e-mail reminder to vote.

Using the newest touch-screen voting machines that were displayed, students voted for the candidates of their choice for president. The results were:

Bush, 59 votes

Kerry, 42

Dean, 27

Edwards, 16

Clark , 11

Kucinich, 8

Sharpton, 6

Moseley Braun, 4

Gephardt, 3

Lieberman, 3

Undecided, 35

For more information on the Declare Yourself campaign, see www.declareyourself.com.