Mayor of Topeka, Michelle De La Isla encourages all Ichabods to take part in civic engagement in the Topeka community. Students are encouraged to apply for a position on the Topeka boards and commissions. Students can also register to vote in the Kansas election. The deadline to register for the next election is Oct. 16.

De La Isla is using her experiences to empower her work as the mayor of Topeka and as the Diversity and Inclusion Representative at Westar Energy. She encourages Washburn students to find a place in the Topeka community through these two civic engagement opportunities.

One great way to get involved is to apply for a seat on one of Topeka’s boards and commissions.

A county commission contains three to five elected commissioners. They serve executive and legislative duties and enact local ordinances. Their duties include, but are not limited to, approving budgets, overseeing spending and hiring county employees.

Students can review information on current boards and commissions on the City of Topeka website. The website lists categories of Topeka boards and commissions, current members and vacancies. One can see further information by referring to the tabs on the page. Updated information was last added to the website Sep. 4.

Applications for boards and commissions can be located and submitted via the City of Topeka Boards and Commissions website. Students can select “Apply for a Board” under Boards and Commissions. The application form requires basic personal information. It contains personal profile information, interests, experiences and voluntary self-identification.

On a different note, as the next Kansas election is coming up, register to vote  using a federal voter registration form from your nearest voting registration office or online by Oct. 16.

The next Kansas general election is Nov. 6.

The Kansas voting guide and registration information can be found online. The guide covers eligibility requirements, acceptable forms of identification, registration deadline, election dates, voting machines, candidates, ballot measure information, campaign finance information and provisions for voters with disabilities. In the guide, individuals can find information on the election’s candidates to help inform their vote.

It’s important to hear people’s voice in national, state and local politics. It’s also important to not only to register to vote, but cast your vote as well.

Students at Washburn University are encouraged to engage in the Kansas election. A competition for student voter registration has ensued between Topeka and some other schools. Click on the website and fill out the voter registration form to join the competition.

As the election nears, it’s important to note that even just a few votes can make a difference. Registering to vote shows responsibility as a member in the community. Even a small impact on the outcome matters. 

Everybody has a place in the Topeka community. Join the civic engagement opportunities in the community, fill out the application for boards and commissions and register to vote.