Empowering Student Voices: The Importance of Campus Voting in Houston
On a sunny Monday in September 2019, students at Texas Southern University (TSU) gathered outside the campus student center, a vibrant hub of activity and conversation. Among them was Jordan Jones, a 20-year-old student who was preparing to cast his ballot for the first time in the upcoming general election. For Jones and many of his peers, the opportunity to vote is not just a civic duty; it’s a chance to make their voices heard in a system that often overlooks the needs and concerns of young voters.
A Shift in Voting Accessibility
Historically, Texas Southern University has played a pivotal role in the community, particularly as a historically Black college located in Houston’s Third Ward. In 2019, TSU became a polling location when Harris County introduced countywide voting centers. However, during the March primary, the university did not serve as an early voting site, which posed challenges for students eager to participate in the electoral process. This fall, the landscape has changed significantly, with TSU designated as an early voting site for the November 5 presidential election, starting October 21.
“It’s very important,” Jones emphasized. “Our vote really matters. It’s a lot of us. We want to have a say so. If you want to have a say so, you’ve got to get up and vote.” His sentiment reflects a growing awareness among students about the power of their collective voice in shaping the future.
The University of Houston Joins the Movement
Not far from TSU, the University of Houston (UH) is also making strides to enhance student voting access. With a population exceeding 50,000 students, staff, and faculty, UH is a significant player in the local electoral landscape. After not hosting early voting during the March primary, the university successfully lobbied for its early voting location to be reinstated for the upcoming election. UH Vice Chancellor Jason Smith expressed disappointment over the earlier loss but celebrated the return of early voting, highlighting its importance in promoting civic engagement among students.
“It’s super important to have that location,” said Diego Arriaga, the UH student body president. “It promotes students to vote, the community to vote, the accessibility of voting. If it wasn’t on campus, I don’t see many of our students going out of their way finding a location off campus to go vote.” This sentiment underscores the critical role that accessibility plays in encouraging voter turnout among young people.
A Broader Trend in Harris County
This fall, a total of 12 colleges and universities in Harris County will serve as early voting locations, marking a significant win for student voting access. This development comes at a time when some Texas lawmakers are pushing to limit or eliminate voting on college campuses. For instance, State Rep. Carrie Isaac proposed legislation last year aimed at removing voting from college campuses, citing safety concerns related to mass gatherings. Such proposals have raised alarms among advocates for voting rights, who see them as attempts to suppress student participation in the electoral process.
Alex Birnel, advocacy director for MOVE Texas, a nonprofit focused on voting rights, noted, “There are definitely folks in the state that want to suppress the vote and think of the vote in partisan terms. Student polling locations in particular have been under threat.” This ongoing struggle highlights the importance of maintaining and expanding access to voting for students.
Historical Context and Current Challenges
The issue of voter suppression is not new, particularly for historically Black universities like Prairie View A&M, located just northwest of Houston. In August, students at Prairie View faced the threat of having their votes diluted when local officials considered a request to add early voting locations in predominantly white, conservative areas. Fortunately, after pushback from local Black Democrats, the proposal was scrapped, emphasizing the need for equitable access to voting resources.
Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, a graduate of Texas Southern, has been vocal about her commitment to ensuring that all voices are heard. “Nobody is suppressing anybody’s vote under my administration,” she stated, while also acknowledging the complexities involved in determining polling locations based on various factors, including past voter turnout and resource availability.
Encouraging Student Engagement
Despite the challenges, both TSU and UH are actively working to engage their student populations in the electoral process. At UH, Smith and Arriaga are encouraging students and staff to take advantage of the early voting location, while at TSU, student Ayanna Wilmore and her sorority have been organizing voter registration events ahead of the October 7 deadline. “The fact that people in Houston can vote on campus is definitely a win,” Wilmore remarked. “We’ve just got to keep it a win. We’ve just got to make sure we do our part to utilize that polling location to make sure there is no reason to take it away from us.”
As the November election approaches, the efforts of students, university officials, and community advocates are crucial in ensuring that young voices are not only heard but also empowered to shape the future of their communities. The accessibility of voting on campus is a vital step in fostering a culture of civic engagement among the next generation of voters.