The Project Vote Smart Bus was on Bakersfield College’s campus Feb. 4 in order to educate students about a voters self-defense system.
After getting stuck on the hill at the University Avenue entrance, the large tour bus finally made its way onto the BC campus to educate BC students of their organization.
According to the Project Vote Smart Website, the voter’s self defense system is designed so that people can look up information about political figures.
“Every candidate and elected official from president to local government can be easily and instantly accessed through the project Vote Smart Website,” so that people can learn about the political person and all things they have said, their voting history, and things they have done.
According to Jeremy Clemens, a spokesperson and bus driver for the organization, “Our main goal is to educate people and get them away from the manipulative tactics.”
Clemens also explained that they are not biased and only provide information about different candidates to mostly college students.
Clemens also said that college students have an open mind when seeing the bus as opposed to the general public.
“We get the best turnouts at colleges and universities, there’s more people around, and college kids are more willing to try something different.”
Inside, the bus has a large theater system, complete with a large projection screen, surround sound and small lights that line the ceiling. The seats are individually set in two’s, much like that of a small airplane.
Students are welcome to view films and documentaries that follow the history of the actual organization itself and facts about the system of government and how it works.
Students are also welcome to access data about candidates and officials. The film explained that many of the people who are involved with Project Vote Smart are volunteers or work for minimum wage.
The different members monitor what Congress is doing and put the information on their Website.
The film also explained that they work hard to make sure all information reported is accurate and correct, stating that all bits of information are checked for accuracy five times.
According to the Project Vote Smart Website, the organization is not governmentally funded nor do they accept funds from corporations or other organizations that support or oppose any political party, or special interest groups.
The funds for Project Vote Smart come from Americans who donate money.
The volunteers at Project Vote Smart work to make sure people understand how politics work and that they do not get misguided by any tactics that political figures may try to use, ensuring “that tolerance will no longer be the only option available to the millions of us who are tormented by the issueless rhetoric and often misleading attacks that define contemporary American politics.”
Project Vote Smart has a home office that is based in Montana, and also has a second office in Arizona, explained Clemens.
Clemens said that the tour started in Florida and then worked its way up the East Coast and toward California, encountering many different types of people from all walks of life.
Clemens also explained that Project Vote Smart does all they can to educate others, including having their own Facebook page and various videos on viewing Website YouTube.
Project Vote Smart has over 40,000 members across the country. To receive more information about Project Vote Smart or become a member visit the Project Vote Smart Website at www.vote-smart.org.