The IOP has made efforts in previous years to get first-years to vote, primarily by going door to door in Yard dorms. But with students in and out of their rooms, they were unable to reach all first-years, unlike at yesterday's mandatory registration.

The IOP had asked for a slot at first-year registration in past years, said Hannah Choi '01, the chair of the IOP's Student Advisory Committee. But in previous years the Registrar's office had denied the request.

Choi said she though that the Registrar's office changed its policy this year as a result of a newly-passed federal law which requires universities to make a "good faith effort" to provide voter registration forms to students.

The Registrar's office also updated its website last spring with a link to voter registration forms. The link has also been added to the College's website.

"It's great that Harvard is finally letting us do this," Choi said.

Choi said the College should still do more to make voter registration available to students. The law lets universities decide what constitutes a "good faith effort."

No similar drive will be held at upperclass registration on Friday. But the IOP will be tabling in Houses before the election encouraging students to register and request absentee ballots.