John Hayden, Democratic candidate for state representative, spoke briefly about the issues of voting and expanding the College Democrats of America, to a small crowd of students Tuesday evening in Coleman Hall.

Hayden spoke mainly on student voting.

“Your voice matters,” Hayden said.

He encouraged the students to register to vote if they hadn’t already. He also suggested they do what they can to get other students to sign up as well, even if they were already registered at home. He explained that voting could help the image of the university in the eyes of the legislation.

Hayden talked about the voting situation at Eastern in 1998, when there were 900 students registered to vote. Of those 900, only three students actually voted.

Hayden said this was unacceptable, and people who don’t vote lose the right to complain about the condition of the county, city, state and even country.

Hayden’s ten-minute speech served as an introduction to the meeting of the College Democrats of America, which immediately followed.

One purpose College Democrats of America is to support local candidates as well as major state representatives, Hayden said. It is a good way for students to learn about the campaigning process, and, in joining, they would actually be helping candidates with their crusades.

“Students can see what it’s like and get a taste for it,” he said.

That’s where the College Democrats of America comes in again, Hayden said.

By joining the organization, students have the opportunity to convince their peers of the importance of voting. One of the group’s goals is to get as many students registered as possible.

He also promised the students he would help Eastern’s group, University Democrats, in any way he could, and reminded the crowd that Voters’ Registration Day is Sept. 26.

Hayden, who graduated from Eastern in 1995, did not deliver a political speech about his campaign. He touched briefly on the subject, explaining he was fortunate enough to run unopposed in the primary, and, in the future, he and his staff will be buying some taped radio and television time.