On Monday, Staff Writer Harper Rosenberg attended Columbia Votes’ panel event on local and national elections.

On Monday, September 23, Columbia Votes hosted a panel event titled “From The Polls To Public Office” to hear campaign experts discuss the importance of becoming involved in both local and national elections. Anusha Merchant (BC’ 25), Vice President of Columbia Votes, explained that “voting can be complex to think about” and that the group aims to “demystify the voting rights world.” The panelists included Sara Hadad, Chief Campaign Officer for “Run for Something,” an organization that encourages and supports upcoming progressive candidates to initiate effective grassroots campaigns. New York City Council candidate and Barnard Alumna Sarah Batchu also spoke at the event. Batchu is a public servant, nonprofit leader, and a committed activist for better healthcare and housing. Barnard Political Science Professor Michael Miller also spoke on the panel. He is a former campaign consultant and a scholar in American elections, parties, and political behavior.

Event moderators Devon Kroupa-Haberski (BC ’27) and Jules Kramer (BC ’27) asked a range of questions to each of the panelists. In response to a question regarding the more important aspects of campaigning, Sarah Batchu noted that asking supporters to donate as low as $10 is an efficient decision, as the city government will match any donations she receives, multiplied by eight. So if Batchu receives $10 from a patron, she will receive an additional $80 from the city budget, adding up to $90 towards her campaign. She remarked that many of her supporters “live in public housing, are folks on a fixed income, and they don’t have additional money to spare,” so these smaller donations are much more reasonable and effective.

Furthermore, much of the event was focused on the importance of voting in smaller, local elections. Sara Hadad provided an example that took place in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, where she was scouting unlikely progressive candidates and encouraging them to run for local government positions. There, Hadad spoke with a former pastor who was looking at running for a certain office in the county. He ran and “ended up flipping the seat by under 200 votes… the first time there was a democratically controlled commission there in a century.” Now, the office can pass more democratic policies, such as providing constituents with more ballot boxes and increasing access to voting. 

One interesting point Professor Miller mentioned was in regard to holding discussions with those who hold different opinions than yourself. In one striking claim during the event, he noted, “I guarantee you if you’re born and bred in New York City, I can take you to my home county in western North Dakota, I could put you at a table with somebody, and you’re going to find something to agree with.” Although many Americans have vastly diverse experiences and come from a range of backgrounds, he emphasized the importance of initiating discussions on points of common ground. 

Miller further argued that most American votes are actually moderate, and finding this space is very possible. He noted that we have been taught to focus on the opinions that divide us, and he acknowledged that there are “existential threats” embedded in political views—underlining that there is an importance to fostering these conversations while discussing politics and campaigning. 

After Kroupa-Haberski and Kramer finished asking the panelists their questions, they opened up the floor to audience questions. One student asked how each speaker felt about the trajectory of their career. Batchu answered that throughout her work, she continuously asks herself, “Will this make someone’s life better?” She highlighted how crucial her career has been for New Yorkers and how being involved in local government has allowed her to improve the lives of those around her. 

After a range of students prompted the speakers for slices of their extensive knowledge, the audience was able to personally approach and speak with each panelist before the event came to a close. Columbia Votes’ panel was an effective way to teach the community about elections, campaigning, and voting, leaving attendees with a refurbished understanding of and enthusiasm toward American politics.

Panel via Author