Students exercise their right to vote at Alcorn

Students exercise their right to vote at Alcorn

Students at Alcorn State University utilized the power of their vote when they gathered at the polls for the 2018 Midterm Elections.

Young voters convened at the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex Tuesday, Nov. 6 to cast their vote for candidates they believe will lead the country in the right direction.

Making changes for a brighter future was the agenda of the young voters. Jaylon Thomas, a senior computer engineering major from Birmingham, Alabama, hopes that his vote will lead to the election of politicians that have the peoples' best interest in mind.

"It's important to take advantage of civil liberties such as voting because it gives you the authority to enforce change in the community and the nation," said Thomas.

Students were also making sure that their peers understood the significance of their votes. Tekeysa Person, a freshman pre-nursing major from Pike County, Mississippi, expressed how important voting is to those who may feel their vote doesn't count.

"Some people around my age may think that voting is unnecessary, but it's important to let your voice be heard," said Person. "We all matter, and voting gives us a chance to be involved in selecting qualified leaders."

Today's generation of voters is living the dreams of those who fought for the voting rights of women and minorities. D'Vennio Warner, a senior mass communications major from Memphis, Tennessee, made sure to honor his forefathers for their efforts.

"Our forefathers fought for people like me to have the right to vote, so it's vital that we honor the blood, sweat, and tears they shed for us to make our voices heard," said Warner.

Leading up to the election, some students took the initiative to research the political history of different candidates to familiarize themselves with their agendas. Ivory Lloyd, a graduate student and music education major from Mound Bayou, Mississippi, gave his take on knowing the candidates before making a decision.

"You'll never know what a candidate's intentions are if you don't do your research," said Lloyd. "It's important to research every candidate and choose the right person based on their success record."

Once the polls closed, students gathered in the James L. Bolden Campus union TV Room for an election watch party.