The student and youth involvement in politics and activism have reached an all-time high one month prior to the Nov. 3 general election.
Social change agents, students and now apartment resources have picked up the baton to reach out to local universities, specifically at Florida A&M University.
On Sept. 24, Sydney Jamieson, a member of the RentTally.com team, reached out to journalism professor Douglas Blackburn in hopes to connect with campus publications. Her goal was to get the word out toFAMU students about the need for them to vote.
“What a lot of students don’t realize is that when you move from one place to the next your ballot does not automatically get forwarded, ” said Jamieson. “A lot of people are like, I’m already registered, yes you probably are registered … the problem is when you move to a temporary address while you are at school, you have to go take that action and update your address to get an absentee ballot.”
So, what do students do? How do we make sure we are eligible to vote?
“There are three options that I would love to share. Request an absentee ballot to be delivered to their apartment or dormitory at FAMU, and remember to mail the ballot back on time. Register at their local FAMU address so you may vote in-person at a polling location. Make a visit home for a good meal, family time, and to vote in-person at their registered address,” she said.
Some FAMU students don’t know of other ways to vote aside from going to the polls. Some were transparent and said they didn’t care to find out other ways to vote.
Tabitha Weston, a student at Florida State University, said, “I think it’s very important for college students to vote simply because it’s a privilege that others around the world don’t get. I voted last election, and yeah sometimes I feel like our vote doesn’t count but, that doesn’t mean stop just because this one time, it wasn’t in our favor.”
She added that her motivation to assist in the initiative was behind her experience in general research in university polling percentages. Jamieson detailed that FAMU’s percentages specifically were low. “It is appalling how low the student rates are. You all are the next generation.”
In order to help students whose shoes she once was in make a difference, Jameson took the initiative to create a blog about the ways you can vote in the upcoming election. “I have a confession, I didn’t vote in the 2012 presidential election.”
The blog details a relatable story of her time as a college student “adulting” and regretting not exercising her right to vote but ringing a call of action to everyone but college students specifically, don’t make the same mistake.
“Now is not the time to get in our feelings about our vote not counting. We have to stand up and mark our vote. We gotta try,” Jamieson said.
To visit Sydney Jamieson’s blog post click the link: Student Voting Guide