“Your vote matters:” Salisbury University program gets students to the polls ahead of general election
SALISBURY, Md.- “We have a duty as citizens in this country. We’re given a right to choose our leaders and that’s not something that everyone in the world has,” Salisbury University Junior Delaney Cinnamon said.
Letting their voices be heard. It’s a mission Salisbury University’s Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) program looks to achieve as the Maryland Gubernatorial General Election is just days away.
Students are getting the chance to register, find out more information about the election, and even get a ride to the polls. “What we’re trying to do with this process really this year is to kind of normalize thinking about elections and to make it seem more common that students would be involved in this and would want to go and vote,” Pope said.
“Another thing is that they’re here for 8 months out of the year. So, they can register to vote in Wicomico County right now and we have a little flyer that allows them to do that,” PACE’s Alexa Rawlings said.
Pace Program Director Sandy Pope says the goal is to get more young adults involved in the voting process so they’re more aware of things happening right in their own backyards. “So we’re in this kind of mid-term, off year election right now in 2022. It’s easy for people to kind of miss it, even though here in this state we have some really high stakes and measures on the ballot,” Pope said.
With many hot button issues on the ballot for Maryland, it’s getting some students fired up to do their civic duty. “I’m proud to identify as female, so reproductive rights big time. Big issue on the ballot and you gotta stand up for those. For all of my friends, legalization of marijuana,” Cinnamon said.
“I know that a lot of my friends that I’ve talked to have said like ‘what’s the point in voting?’ They feel like they’re just one in a million and what’s it really going to do. One vote could really tip the scales.”
Yet, those we spoke with say it’s bigger than just a ‘vote.’ “At the end of the day, it’s about educating yourself. You want to make a change no matter what and your vote matters,” Rawlings said.
If you get to the civic center for early voting, it’s important to note the only ballots there are for districts in Wicomico County.
If you’re a student that’s registered out of state, you won’t be able to vote unless you take the step of changing your registration to the state of Maryland.
The university has about 35 to 40 staff members who’ve volunteered their time to get students to the polls.
That service will be offered to students for early voting from 9a.m.-5p.m. until Thursday, November 3rd when early voting ends.
As a reminder, the general election is Tuesday, November 8th.
