Claflin students will ‘March to the Polls’

In an effort to increase voter turnout among young adults, Claflin University student Promise Joseph is spearheading a "March to the Polls" for the upcoming presidential election.

The event aims to mobilize the student body and the local community to participate actively in the electoral process.

“It’s very important that our students exercise their right to vote. As a historically Black college or university, the oldest in the state of South Carolina, we have a civic and moral responsibility to have our students engaged in the process,” Claflin University President Dr. Dwaun Warmack said.

The march is scheduled for the morning of Election Day, Nov. 5, and is planned to start at JTK Gymnasium for Claflin students. Students will walk through Claflin’s campus to one of the connectors to South Carolina State University, where SC State students will then join the march.

All students will march through SC State University to the polling site inside the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

“This event is about more than just getting people to the polls,” said Joseph, Claflin HBCU VOTE Fellow. “It’s about fostering a culture of political engagement and making sure that every voice is heard.”

Joseph is a junior mass communications major with a concentration in digital media and a minor in criminal justice. She is currently serving as the treasurer for the Claflin University Student Government Association and holds the position of VOTE HBCU Fellow for Claflin this year.

VOTE HBCU, launched through HEADCOUNT & XCELEADER, is a 10-stop tour designed to empower HBCU students with the tools, resources and cultural engagement needed to amplify their voices in the upcoming election.

As the presidential election approaches, similar initiatives and events have been taking place, such as voter registration drives, debate watch parties and forums focused on political discourse.

“Our most recent voter registration drive, in partnership with VOTE HBCU, resulted in about 125 new registrations, and during the freshmen orientation week, we had about 115 students register,” Joseph said.

Joseph has hosted two voter registration drives for students since the start of the 2024 semester. One took place specifically for freshmen during their orientation week, and the other was on Aug. 26 for all returning students.

Claflin held a similar March to the Polls event during the last presidential election in 2020. While only 30 students attended that march, the increased focus on voter initiatives is expected to draw a larger crowd this year.