This summer, senior Political Science majors Eve Pennington ’25 and Ben Gordon ’25 decided to start Haverford for Harris, a group of Haverford students dedicated to getting out the vote for Kamala Harris in Delaware County. They have been organizing groups of students to carpool to local neighborhoods and canvas with Haverford Township Democrats every Saturday. The canvassing events have attracted a wide range of Haverford students, including freshmen who otherwise would not have access to canvassing because they do not have access to cars on campus. The group is usually made up of about fifteen to twenty people, with both newcomers and returning canvassers attending each week. Haverford for Harris is especially focused on canvassing because it is a particularly useful way to increase voter turnout, and it allows students to engage in-person with the community. Canvassers have the important task of talking to undecided voters, hearing the issues that they’re passionate about, and informing them on the ways that those issues are reflected in the candidate’s proposed policies. When asked about the club’s canvassing efforts, Pennington said, “Sometimes canvassing can be intimidating because you have to talk to strangers and knock on people’s doors, but I’m really happy that a lot of people are at least willing to try it out. Having that many students be interested in that has been really encouraging for us, and it’s been really great to see a wide variety of people who are coming to canvass as well.”
On-campus groups Haverford for Harris and Haverford College Democrats have been working both together and separately to get Harris elected. While Haverford for Harris has focused mostly on canvassing, Haverford College Democrats have held phone-banking and letter-writing events, writing an impressive total of 500 letters to voters. Haverford College Democrats also hosted a Q&A and voter registration drive with Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, hosted by another senior political science major, Fiona Pando ’25. This Monday, November 4th, Haverford for Harris held a “Honk for Harris” event on the side of Lancaster Avenue by the end of College Lane. Students gathered to hold up signs for Harris and stir up excitement for Election Day. While some drivers expressed dissent, the majority honked in support. Finally, the night before the election, Haverford for Harris and Haverford College Democrats handed out glow sticks with polling information attached to them as part of a joint “Glow to the Polls” initiative held outside of Haverford’s Dining Center.
The efforts of these two groups show that Haverford College students are invested in the results of this upcoming election, passionate about increasing voter turnout, and excited to vote themselves.
Make sure to vote today, Tuesday, November 5th in the GIAC, Room 201 from 7am-8pm!
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