The University of Wisconsin Young Progressives deputized students to register others to vote Wednesday and informed students about upcoming opportunities in the on-campus effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

Young Progressives Vice President Sam Gehler said the organization aims to maximize student involvement and bring up traditionally low on-campus voting rates.

“Our goal is to become a long-term, sustainable progressive organization and to promote student activism,” Gehler said. “Since we’re focused on building ourselves in the long term, having as many registered voters as possible is key.”

The organization, Gehler said, is looking to spark students’ interest by emphasizing peer education and making registering to vote and signing recall petitions immediately convenient.

Students in attendance were able to be deputized to register others to vote. City Clerk spokesperson Elena Berg walked students through the process of registering their peers.

Gehler said the primary reason for students not voting is that they are not registered. Having student deputies, he said, would hopefully increase accessibility and involvement on campus.

Potential student deputies must complete a Deputy Certification in order to be eligible, Berg said. The form is available through the City Clerk’s office or online.

Once deputized, one can register anyone who is a U.S. citizen, over 18 and in possession of a valid Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID, Berg said.

The Wisconsin ID requirement has caused significant controversy on campus because it almost universally excludes out-of-state students from voting.

An out-of state student who applies for a Wisconsin drivers license or state idea is required to forfeit his or her home state ID, Berg said. Most students are unwilling to do so.

A person who is registering to vote, Berg said, must also have a valid street address. Students must register with their current on-campus address, even if they are already registered in their hometown.

The Young Progressives also educated the group about becoming a circulator of the petitions to recall Walker and Kleefisch.

Cassie Webb, spokesperson from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said anyone can become a circulator as long as they are a U.S. citizen, over 18 and a resident of Wisconsin for at least 28 days before the next election. Potential circulators also cannot be convicted felons, she said.

Circulators, Webb said, are permitted by law to circulate on public property. They can also collect signatures on private property with the owner’s permission.

A valid signature contains a legible signature, a viable house number and street, a municipality and a date, Webb said. A Wisconsin ID does not need to be shown.

Gehler said the Young Progressives will ask signers about what type of ID they have, such as a Wisconsin state ID, a student ID or a military ID.

This data, Gehler said, will be put into a voter activation network that allows his organization to see who has what kind of ID.

“That way, we can get back in touch with them looking ahead to 2012,” he said. “Then we can say, ‘Here’s how the election will work for you.'”