‘This is our time’: SC State students march to polling place on Election Day
Students from SC State and neighboring Claflin University emphasize the importance of voting and civic engagement
Watch video from the march on Facebook
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State University students marked Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with a march to the polling place at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, carrying Bulldogs Vote signs to emphasize the importance of voting and civic engagement.
The students were joined at the center by a group of Claflin University students who marched from their neighboring campus, chanting, “My vote matters!” and carrying their own signs.
A long line formed at the polling place following the march as students who were registered to vote in the precinct cast their ballots.
Honoring the struggle for voting rights
“They had to even pay to vote. So being able to march for free, not getting hurt, not having to pay to vote, it really means something to me,” she said.
“My voice is being heard, and people can see that Bulldogs are out here to vote,” Collins said.
She said the idea that a single vote does not matter is a myth.
“We have to stop believing in those types of things because that is preventing us from succeeding. It just really makes me mad because we need to stop listening to this foolishness,” Collins said.
Young voters make their voices heard
“I came out because I feel like our vote matters, and everybody should have their opinion and voice. In today’s economy and today’s world, we need to vote.
“There’s a lot going on right now, and if we want stuff, we have to vote. Every vote matters no matter what somebody says,” he said.
Gabrielle Cherry, a freshman agribusiness major from Atlanta, said the strong presence of freshmen at the gathering demonstrated that young people are engaged.
“Young people vote, too. For me, I voted in the state of Georgia. I had to fill out an absentee ballot, and I voted like last week. But I’m still showing up for the state of South Carolina and telling people to go vote because it matters,” the 18-year-old said.
“I would tell the people who say their vote doesn’t matter to go do their research. I feel they’re being ignorant to say your vote doesn’t matter because with everything that’s happening in the world right now, you can tell it matters,” Cherry said.
Shelton Manning Jr., a junior agribusiness and business management major from Dallas, said every vote matters and can help create change.
“Student representation matters, as well. We can’t expect a change if we’re not here for it. Seeing Claflin University come out here and absolutely storm our campus with young voters is absolutely amazing. I’m just as happy for the Bulldog students, as well,” said Manning, who is also a member of SC State’s Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College.
‘This is our time’
“We are the new generation, and this is our time to vote and get the people who we want in office. On a college campus, these are first-time voters, I’m sure. So I think it’s just important that this be the first time that they vote and campaign for something for themselves,” the 20-year-old said.
Logan Hines, a senior biology and pre-med major from Savannah, Georgia, said every vote matters.
“It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, your vote matters because at the end of the day, your one vote could be the determining factor of who’s in office, or what we want our future to look like. So that’s why it’s very important for us to wake up,” Hines said.
“That’s what being at a college campus is all about, not really protesting, but stretching your rights and learning the way of the world. This is your first step. So it was very important for us to come out and spread the word that it’s our time. This is our world, this is our future,” she said.
