MOBILIZING THE NEXT GENERATION: Xavier students lead voter engagement ahead of 2024 presidential election

November 4, 2024

By: Keziah-Yvonne Smith, Staff Writer

In the 2020 election, over half of voters between the ages of 18 and 29 casted a ballot, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). Voter turnout for the 2020 election was the highest the country had seen in decades. As we approach Election Day (November 5, 2024), the question arises: How do we keep this momentum going for young voters? 

Many organizations on Xavier’s campus have been working diligently to encourage students, especially Black students, not only to register to vote but also to foster a passion for civic engagement. One of these organizations is the Student Government Association (SGA), through its voting initiative, “X Marks the Ballot.”  

According to Aryan Gleason, the SGA treasurer and co-director of “X Marks the Ballot,” since the 2020 election, she has noticed a gap in civic engagement on campus. The issue, she argues, is not that young people are uneducated about politics, but that they lack mobilization.  

“When our grandparents were coming up, a lot of them were raised during the Civil Rights Era. It was more serious for them to be civically engaged because truly their life and freedom depended on it,” Gleason said. “Even though our life and freedom still depend on it, it does not seem like we are in the same situation [because] it is in a different font.” 

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of eligible Black voters has increased significantly over the past few elections. It is projected that there will be a 7-percent rise in Black voters compared to the 2020 election, accounting for 14-percent of the U.S. vote. Despite this increase, there remains a deficit in Black male engagement compared to Black women.  

According to CIRCLE, eligible young Black women voters surpassed young Black male voters in the 2020 election, with 47-percent of young Black women voting, compared to only 31-percent of young Black men. 

One of the challenges Gleason has identified is engaging students who may feel voter apathy. The first step to gaining traction, according to Gleason, is encouraging students to participate in dialogue that might motivate them to register. 

“I always start by asking, ‘Are you registered to vote?’ If they say no, I always ask why. That’s when students start to slow down and give me their time,” she explained. “After that, I can begin to break it down to a level they can relate to, […] so they can understand the importance of voting and why they should vote.” 

Through the initiative, the SGA has hosted several events on voting to increase student engagement. By partnering with organizations like Xavier’s chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), Pumps to the Polls, the Office of Inclusion and Social Justice on campus, and many more, the initiative has been able to get students registered to vote. Despite the challenges, for recent registrants like Caris Green, a junior music education major, the efforts of organizers on campus have not been in vain. 

“I first registered to vote this past summer during Orientation Week with [the Peer Dean Association]. This is the first [presidential election] I’m old enough to vote in. I want to make sure I’m exercising my civic duty to the best of my ability,” Green said. “It’s important to me, as young people, especially young Black people, that we play an active role in our democracy and exercise this crucial aspect of being an American.” 

Green noted that the initiatives on campus have instilled a sense of pride and hope for the future. 

“HBCUs have historically been places where Black students can become radicalized about social issues and commit to lives of social change and advocacy,” Green said. “Seeing it in my own lifetime, where students just like me are participating in such important work to empower other students […], makes me proud to be an HBCU student.” 

Students can stay alert for more events as Election Day approaches. Xavier is a polling location this year; however, students must be registered in Louisiana to cast their ballot on campus. According to the Secretary of State’s office, Louisiana allows students to register to vote within the state as long as they have a valid Louisiana address. All out-of-state registrants must vote using paper ballots. 

Ultimately, organizers like Gleason want students to recognize the power of their voice and their vote. 

“The history is there for us to see the power when we mobilize. By not mobilizing, we are relinquishing our inalienable rights to those who understand the power of voting,” Gleason said. “People have been beaten and battered just to cast a vote. I want [students] to think, ‘If our vote didn’t matter, why are there so many things in place to stop us from voting?’ Our rights are worth fighting for.”