October 14, 2009 Worcester organizers canvas city for new voters Play video

(NECN: Kenneth Craig, Worcester, Mass.) - Less than three weeks remain before Worcester voters take to the polls. But in a city with a long history of low voter turnout-- just how many people will show up is anyone's guess.

It's the last day to register to vote for city elections and Clark University student David Lebeuf is spending it canvassing the city.

He leads a non-political coalition that is specifically tackling groups with low turnout rates -- including young people and low-income residents.

Voting trends show that people with higher education levels, which tend to be middle class residents are more likely to vote than lower income residents

Just twenty two percent of registered Worcester voters came out in 2007 for city elections.

Today, a group of Holy Cross student's spent the afternoon registering students -- so far they've signed up 175.

The student group hopes several city council proposals targeting college students will bring them out on November third.

Still, some argue that an increased effort to register new voters over the last couple years -- may inadvertently be backfiring.

Residents have until 8 pm Wednesday night to register.