With election season fast approaching, the stakes have never felt higher.
No matter where you fall on the political spectrum—Democrat, Republican, or third-party voter—issues affecting all of us are front and center. We’re talking reproductive rights, healthcare access, immigration, foreign policy, and more.
Voting may come off as a choice to some, but it’s a fundamental right that has shaped the course of American history, and we cannot afford to overlook its power.
College campuses and youth organizers are stepping up across the country, driving conversations and encouraging civic engagement. At Montgomery College, efforts are in full swing. On Sept. 19, I attended the National Voter Registration Day event at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus as part of this movement.
“Voting is important to our country’s democracy. It’s a patriotic thing to do for our country,” said Rich Scheer, a Women’s Voter Registration volunteer.
For Scheer, whose dedication to voter rights stretches back many years, the importance of voting wasn’t just about fulfilling a civic duty; it was about exercising the most powerful tool individuals have to shape society.
“I think one of the barriers to voter engagement is that it seems like the process is too complicated, so we’re here to make it easy for students to sign up,” said Ayana Ogunsunlade, a community volunteer for the National Voter Registration Day with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Theta Omega Chapter.
“The second reason, and this is a personal reason, is that we often get a lot of attention around presidential elections, but it’s really our involvement in local politics where we see differences much sooner,” she said, adding, “I want to get students involved and engaged in the process of voting so they can participate more actively on their local level.”
One of the community volunteers I spoke with emphasized the importance of helping Montgomery College students register to vote and learn about the officials running for office. She wants students to understand that registering to vote or checking their registration status is simple.
If you are a student and missed this event but still want to ensure you are registered to vote, visit vote.org and enter your address to confirm your voter registration status. If you find you’re not registered but want to register before the Nov. 5 election, head to vote.gov, select your state, and follow the instructions.
