Nonprofit Vote.org advised Reuters it has registered over 1 million voters aged 18-24 this election cycle by focusing on underrepresented teams and first-timers in voter drives and different outreach to college students on HBCU campuses and in areas with giant numbers of voters of colour.
Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey cited “unprecedented” youth engagement this election cycle, with voters underneath 35 accounting for practically 80 per cent of all new registrations on the group’s platform through the 2024 cycle, up from 64 per cent in 2020.
Justice Montgomery, an NC A&T freshman, registered to vote in July throughout band camp. The drummer plans to forged his poll on campus with fellow members of the band known as the Blue & Gold Marching Machine.
“Initially, I could not even see myself going to vote,” the Georgia native mentioned. “We took a break from the music simply to dive deep” into some poll points, Montgomery mentioned after performing in NC A&T’s homecoming parade to cheers that additionally greeted dance groups; the campus king, queen and different “royal courtroom” members; and a banner of blue balloons spelling out “Kamala”.
BlackPAC CEO Adrianne Shropshire mentioned homecoming occasions enable candidates to make a closing push and have “substantive conversations with people who’re nonetheless on the fence”.
BlackPAC, a left-leaning political motion committee, has collaborated with Howard College college students to interact their friends whereas celebrating their centennial homecoming.
Howard pupil Chloé Enoch, 21, mentioned this yr’s election and Harris’ run already has impressed youthful generations.
Harris, the HBCU’s most well-known alumna, was featured on clothes, pins and different merchandise. Howard alumni waved paper followers exhibiting her face on the entrance and early-voting and election dates on the again.