By Phenia Hovsepyan

Ahead of the upcoming midterm elections on November 6^th, those in the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) community wanting to engage and motivate everyone to participate in the democratic process have come together to form SCA Votes. Along with the SCA Media Institute for Social Change, SCA Votes is looking to make the process of registering to vote for the first time, looking for a polling place, securing an out-of-state mail-in ballot, or confirming voter registration as simple and accessible as possible.

With students from all over the country voting in their perspective state elections, and many state registration deadlines fast approaching, SCA Votes held a Pizza+Democracy event in the School of Cinematic Arts Gallery on October 9^th. Young students who have recently come of voting age, informed registration advocates, and energized staff and faculty alike came together to support one another in civic engagement. 

The event was a huge success, with hundreds of people coming out to have a slice of pizza while helping one another prepare for election day! For more information on voter registration please go to http://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote or contact SCA Votes at scavotesnow@gmail.com. 

Below: SCA Votes organizer and Film & Television Production faculty member, Brenda Goodman, as she gets to know where students in attendance are registered to vote. 

Below: Freshman in the Interactive Media and Games Division, Jake Bailey, registers to vote in his first election.