The University of Memphis Student Government Association (SGA) bussed students for free to an early voting location Monday.
The voter bussing came after the U of M placed first in the 2018 Tennessee Voter Registration Competition against other colleges and universities in Tennessee.
Antonio Scott, vice president of SGA, said he was excited to see the U of M win the competition.
“SGA, Kevyanna (Rawls) and I and our entire administration have worked very hard since the beginning of the school year to ensure our voter registration efforts were different, unique, and they cater to all students that call the University of Memphis home,” Scott said. “Kevyanna and I are really honored about that award and look forward to continue in some of our voting engagements.”
Scott said students who get more involved in elections give millennials a voice in their national, state and local elections.
“I think it’s important for college students to vote because the more we vote, the more students we catalyze to engage in their responsibility and the better outcome we will have as far as having true representation in government places,” Scott said.
During the last midterm election in 2014, voter turnout for those aged 18-29 was 19.9 percent, according to a Pew Research Center study.
SGA President Kevyanna Rawls said the age bracket between 18 and 24 has the lowest voter turnout in Memphis. She said it is important for students to put forth their voices by voting at the polls.
“(Voting) does impact them (students) in the long run,” Rawls said. “I know sometimes we think of it as, ‘Oh this doesn’t impact us,’ but it definitely does. The decisions we make today will impact us moving forward.”
Rawls said she and the other members of SGA planned for the free busing to be the most comprehensive and engaging voting initiative they have ever organized.
“It definitely impacted student life and student engagement a lot through just this initiative and campaign,” Rawls said. “Students knew ‘Go Vote, Go Tigers’ and to get out and vote. They knew what we were doing to have more publicity, and it had a face behind it. The gubernatorial debate was also something that may have put that out. I think all of that really helped with voters right now and engagement in general.”
Rawls said the goal of the campaign was to get 100 people to the polls, and she believed they were successful in achieving that.
“I think it’s successful with getting students educated and letting them know what opportunities were available to them,” Rawls said.
Kyah Hawkins, a freshman English major, said she does not understand people who are upset with their representatives but do not vote to make a change.
“Would you let your grandparents pick your playlist?” Hawkins said. “Then why would you let them pick your representative?”
Freshman Larry Crawford said he thinks the current candidates will impact his future.
“The things that they are doing will impact everything that I do in the future,” Crawford said. “It’s very imperative that I vote and that I tell other people to vote.”
Larry Crawford spends time researching information about early voting before arriving to the polls. Crawford was one of many students that took the shuttle buses to the polls. The shuttles were provided by University of Memphis' Student Government Association.
19-year-old freshman, Larry Crawford spends time researching information about early voting before arriving to the polls. Crawford was one of many students that took the shuttle buses to the polls. The shuttles were provided by University of Memphis' Student Government Association.
The official University of Memphis shuttle bus arrives at early voting polls with students ready to vote. University of Memphis' Student Government Association helped reel in students to the shuttle to vote.
Kevyanna Rawls, president of SGA, takes a photo of students who took the free shuttle service from campus to polls. Students Larry Crawford, Leah Bennett and Cole Martin were few of the students who were bussed to early voting.
