Vote HBCU panel readies students for the polls

On the panel for discussing elections and voting are (from left) Breeze Smith, Kaliyah Hall, Anthony Hallmon, Genesis Morris and Promise Joseph. (Panther photo by Damaia Davis)

Students opened a conversation on the importance of their vote in a panel discussion held ahead of Nov. 5 elections.

Speakers included students Genesis Morris, Breeze Smith, Kaliyah Hall, and alumni Anthony Hallmon. The event was held in Claflin’s theater to give students a safe space for a typically “stigmatized” conversation.

“I feel like hosting town halls or just spaces for open dialogue would definitely break down the stigmas and barriers surrounding voting,” said Morris, the current Miss Claflin. “And it would allow us to come with the open mind and a willingness to actually engage and participate in elections.”

Claflin has a long history in social justice. Engaging with other students is one way to foster that sense of unity.

“We know that change doesn't happen overnight,” Morris said. “But I believe that there is power in numbers, that we show up with a collective effort.”

The panel agreed education is important in keeping people engaged. Hall said the issue became evident when she was an intern in Congress from Georgia’s 2nd District.

“When I worked in Congress, I would get so many phone calls from constituents,” Hall said. “And a lot of them were valid questions, but a lot of the questions were based on the fact that they don't understand basic civics.”

Hallmon is concerned about the effect that lack of knowledge has on voting.

“A lot of times when people are not educated on what's happening, they don't vote,” Hallmon said.

Through social media, students can share and consume media faster than ever. Smith described this as a “double-edged sword” with campaign information.

“We don't have to sit and watch for hours, or we don't have to read for hours to understand something,” Smith, an HBCU White House Scholar, said. "But you just have to definitely make sure it's a credible source.”

The panelists also stressed the importance of local elections.

“Voting is from the ground up,” Smith said. “So if you're not also participating in your local elections, your livelihood on a daily basis is being impacted.”

Hall said the lack of attention to local elections leads to voters not understanding policies that affect their daily lives.

“We really emphasize the presidential election,” Hall said. “But who your congressman is, or your senator, is just as important; who represents you in the Statehouse is just as important.”

Panelists encouraged students to investigate the policies behind the Democratic and Republican labels and candidates.

Smith said many Black voters subscribe to a “vote blue no matter who” mentality without looking at how policies affect them.

Hallmon is chair of the Orangeburg County Democratic Party. He said he is willing to be a resource in bridging the gap.

“That's one of the things that I'm hoping to change as the chair of the local Democratic Party here, is to get more candidates and elected officials on these campuses talking to students,” Hallmon said. “That's the only way we can get the energy to change if the students are aware, if we're educating the students on what's happening.”