Shadae Simpson | Staff Writer
Did you remember to vote this Election Day?
The NAACP, Beautiful Black People (BBP) and the SGA Virginia League of Conservation Votes
Education Fund presented an Election Day Party on Nov. 5. This Election Day party took place in the Student Center Cyber Lounge from 1 to 5 p.m., and it included a DJ, food, photo booths and raffles.
Students bonded and conversed over good food and Rita’s Italian Ice, all while listening to poetry from students from various organizations around campus. HU student Sheba J., a junior entrepreneurship major from Yonkers, California, represented BBP as artistic and creative coach. She presented a poem in which she talked about African Americans overcoming oppression and exercising their individual voices.
“Don’t snore, don’t sleep, just encourage your people to get out there and vote!” she said. “Every oppressor since the dawn of time has fallen, when a group of committed people walk in unity and quit crawling.”
The event was created in hope of persuading students to go out and vote in the Virginia State Senate and Virginia House of Delegates election. It is important to have experiences such as this because they bring light to the current events that young adults entering the world need to know about. These organizations are raising awareness about exercising one’s right to vote, especially for African
Americans, because many young people feel as though their vote does not matter.
According to TheBestColleges.org, young voters make up more than half of the voting population, which makes us a powerful political force. The main goal is to encourage people to “drive the change,” go out and vote and start by making a difference where you live.
The problem is not everyone understands why they need to vote. The politicians who hold office play a huge role in everyday lives. They control money, rights and rules. Without a government, the country is nothing. Every vote truly does matter when it comes to these elections. Every vote counts, and the outcome will affect everyone’s lives.
According to The Washington Post, Virginia Democrats won both the House of Delegates and the State Senate. This is the first time that this has happened in 26 years.
“I think that Virginia becoming a blue state is a huge step in the right direction,” said Hampton University student Paige- Monét Vosges, a senior journalism major from Brooklyn, New York. “Even though many of us are not actually from Virginia, this is where we attend school, and our votes here are just as important.”
The Washington Post also stated that Virginia’s legislative elections drew high interest this year, with a flood of donations and a surge in absentee voting. This shows that holding events such as the Election Day party can be successful.
Students even had the opportunity to receive transportation to their respective voting sites in a “Black Voters Matter” shuttle bus.
“I had a good time at the Election Day party,” said HU sports management major Joshua McKissick, who is from Jacksonville, Florida. “I think it’s always a good idea to bring a sense of fun and enjoyment to a serious matter like voting.”
Overall, this was a successful event that increased voter participation. By bringing more attention to the importance of voting and everyone going out and exercising that right, little by little, voters could see a change in this country.
The Hampton Script 