As the election season comes to an end, several groups on campus are still working hard to elect their candidates. Saint Louis University’s College Republicans and College Democrats are both working to get out the vote.

While College Democrats previously focused their efforts on campus activities by registering and persuading voters, they are now putting their efforts elsewhere in St. Louis.

“We are past the stage of convincing people to vote for [Sen. Barack] Obama. Now we are focusing on getting those people who are [voting Obama] to the polls,” said Lauren Khouri, president of College Democrats. “We have a large volunteer base, and SLU is not that big. So we will get out there and do what we can.”

Twenty-five members spent last Saturday and Sunday going door to door around the city. This weekend they are heading north and and south on Grand Boulevard, as well as the Cherokee Street neighborhood, to bring out the vote for Obama.

College Republicans have been working to educate undecided voters through phone calls and door-to-door visits.

While some of their members have been working with tthe Missouri Republican Party since summer 2006, as the school year has progressed more have become involved.

Phil Hayes, College Republicans vice president, said, “Normally we double our membership during midterm elections and triple our membership during presidential elections. Some people joined because they have to do something, others join for the conversation.”

On election day some student members will be dispersed throughout the city serving as poll watchers for the Republican office to look out for voter fraud or unfair practices.

SLU administrators have been preparing for the first on-campus voting facility place located in Bush Student Center, Room 137.

On Election Day the station will be manned by eight student volunteers, as well as two officials from the St. Louis City Board of Elections, equally divided along party lines.

Dean of Students Scott Smith, who handled the University’s application for a polling place, said he hopes the event lives up to its responsibilities.

“There is no guarantee we are going to be able to do this again,” said Smith.

He hopes, if all goes well, the board of elections will allow another polling place in the future.

“If we do this well hopefully we will be able to do this again, as long as we prove ourselves to the board.”

When asked about the possibility of lines on Election Day, Smith was cautiously optimistic that voters would not spend much time in lines.

“It’s hard to say. It’s for the first time we have ever done this. I don’t anticipate [lines]. But if everyone shows up at six, it will be busy,” he said.

BSC Building Manager Chris Grabau is ready for Tuesday’s political event.

“We have trained enough people to handle that amount . We are working closely with the city board of elections. We don’t anticipate any problems,” Grabau said.