N.C. A&T's Shocking Early Voting Event: Why 1,000 Students Are Urged to Show Up NOW!

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The first day of early voting in Guilford County kicked off with a march to the polls organized by students of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T). This spirited event underscored the importance of access to voting for students, especially after the State Board of Elections opted not to establish early voting locations on campus, a decision that has drawn criticism from the student body.

The march drew more than 60 participants, including students and community members, who walked approximately 1.3 miles to the nearest polling site at the Old Guilford Court House. While there are 10 early voting sites around Guilford County, the closest to the N.C. A&T campus is still a considerable distance away, highlighting the challenges many students face in exercising their voting rights.

Jae'lah Monet, an N.C. A&T student and canvasser with the N.C. A&T Chapter of the NAACP, expressed the sentiment driving the march: “Aggies do what is necessary for our rights, for our survival and for our people.” The event serves not only to help students reach polling sites safely but also to send a message to the State Board of Elections about the significance of having accessible polling locations on college campuses.

Monet emphasized the necessity of accessibility, saying, “Not every student has a car, not every student has money for Uber, so we work together to make sure that everybody has an equal chance, and that is what it means to be an Aggie.” These sentiments reflect a wider movement among students advocating for better access to voting facilities, especially in light of upcoming elections.

Charlie Collicutt, director of the Guilford County Board of Elections, noted that while the decision not to use college campuses for early voting is standard for non-presidential elections, N.C. A&T will still serve as a voting location on Election Day. “There's never been a midterm election, primary or general election that used any of our college campuses. We've only ever used them in presidential elections,” he explained, highlighting the need for systemic change in how voting locations are determined.

Monet and her fellow organizers are committed to increasing voter turnout, planning additional events leading up to the primary election on March 3. She noted that over 200 student organizations are collaborating to ensure that more than 15,000 students at N.C. A&T are registered and able to vote. This coalition represents the collective effort being made to empower young voters in their community.

As the early voting period continues, which ends on February 28, the significance of these grassroots efforts cannot be overstated. Students like Monet are not just advocating for their own rights but are setting a precedent for future elections. She stated, “There are a lot of things in this country that people have never had, and that doesn't make them right. That doesn't mean that it's always fair, and this country is not known for always being accessible. That is why the future matters so much.”

In conclusion, the march to the polls from N.C. A&T exemplifies the ongoing fight for accessibility and representation in the electoral process. As students prepare to cast their votes in the upcoming primary elections, their efforts highlight a crucial intersection of education, activism, and civic engagement. The demand for polling sites on college campuses is not just a local issue; it resonates across the nation as young voters increasingly seek to assert their rights and make their voices heard.