Souls 2 the Polls flyer
Photo submitted by Yayri Hazell
With early voting underway, FAMU and FSU student leaders are teaming up with various organizations to get students and the Tallahassee community to vote in the 2018 mid-term election. The event, Souls 2 the Polls will take place on Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at the Walker-Ford Center.
Denver Smith, the undergraduate coordinator and student advisor to the executive branch for SGA, explains her inspiration behind this event. “This is around early voting. I wanted one, students to be engaged in early voting and two, to get African-Americans to vote because the south side of Tallahassee has one of the lowest precincts in Florida.
“I saw a problem in the community, I wanted to tackle it, created an event, and then I started partnering up with community leaders,” Smith added.
This event is designed to help students become more engaged and promote a higher voting outcome during early voting. Souls 2 the Polls has collaborated with various student organizations such as the NPHC, NAACP, NCNW, Collegiate 100 and the Emerging 100 Men to send the community to the polls.
Attendees will be provided with transportation and food during this event.
Speakers include Smith and other representatives who will be giving an orientation to everyone on how to canvas (go door to door in a neighborhood or community, encouraging people to vote.) This event will showcase vital it is for millennials to cast their votes by partaking in this civic engagement.
“There is an energy around this election that I hope students continue to use to vote in the change of Florida and America. We will continue to volunteer for events like this every day until Nov. 6. No days off,” said Adrian Young, community engagement director.
The general election is Nov. 6, and it is vital for students and the community to get involved in voting early, organizers said.. By voting, you are making your voice heard and giving your opinion on how you think the government should operate. According to thebestcolleges.org, “The youth vote has the potential to be extremely influential in this country. While young voters’ participation in 2016 declined by 2 percent, from a record 52 percent at the 2008 election, today the voting population includes almost equal parts millennials and baby boomers.”
“I hope millennials can truly understand the impact they have over this election and how for many people this is the most important election of their lifetime. With the human interaction and community effort to get this done together on a Sunday, the takeaway will be for many a new experience but an educational one. We millennials are the largest voting block and hold the power to who represents us so it’s time we let our neighbors know it’s time they have our best interests as well,” said Richard Garzola, Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3 candidate.
To get involved with Souls 2 the Polls you can click the link to sign up at https://events.mobilizeamerica.io/floridadems/event/73370/