The Power of a Vote: How I Helped 250 Students Register — and Why I Won’t Stop

Meeting students where they are

Our AFT local partnered with Montclair State University’s Office of Civic and Voter Engagement to organize a campuswide voter registration party for National Voter Registration Day.

We invited speakers from both sides of the political aisle, organized games about voting and even held a raffle for a 50-inch television. Let me tell you something about this generation of students: They love incentives and prizes!

And we didn’t stop there. We held one final voter registration push, bringing our total to 250 newly registered voters. Another 700 students pledged to vote on November 3. It was exciting to see so many students getting involved and taking that first step toward participating in our democracy.

But the real reward was getting to talk with students about voting and hearing what was on their minds. Two things stood out.

The first was how often students told us, “I’m not political.”

We gently challenged that idea. You may not think of yourself as political, we told them, but the decisions elected officials make affect your life every day. Financial aid. Tuition. Reproductive rights. The opportunities you’ll have when you graduate. These aren’t abstract political debates. They’re decisions that affect students and their futures. It was wonderful to see the lightbulbs go off as students began making those connections.

The second thing we heard was more troubling: Students were afraid.

We teach many first-generation students, including students from immigrant families. For some, the fear and uncertainty surrounding immigration and politics are very real. And that anxiety can extend to voting. We listened to their concerns and talked about the importance of their voices and the options available to eligible voters, including voting by mail.

I want my students to understand that they have a place in our democracy and that they deserve accurate information about how to participate.

Taking the fear out of voting

I’m also an AFT Democracy Defender, and I believe part of that responsibility is helping people feel prepared and informed when they vote.

There is so much misinformation circulating about elections. For someone voting for the first time, it can make the whole process seem intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be.

I encourage students to start with the basics: Check your registration. Find out where and when you can vote. Learn what identification, if any, you need. Look into early voting or voting by mail if those options are available to you. And if you have questions or run into a problem, ask an election official for help rather than simply giving up.

Being prepared can make a real difference in how someone feels walking into a polling place. That’s especially important for young people who may not have grown up in families where voting was discussed or celebrated the way it was in mine.

A picture is worth a thousand words

I’ve also found another way to get students excited about participating: a little extra credit.

I have a campaign called “Take a Pic at the Polls.” I encourage students to take a selfie when they go to vote and send it to me. If they aren’t eligible to vote, they can accompany someone who is eligible to the polls and send me a picture of that experience instead.

I get so many family pictures, and I love every one of them.

But one student in particular will always stay with me. She was a Muslim student who had come to this country as a child. She wore a hijab and often shared stories about her culture with our class. She was also very enthusiastic about earning extra credit! After going to the polls, she sent me a picture along with a note: “Thank you for making us do this assignment Professor. I finally feel like a real American!”

I cried a little when I read it. Because that’s what this is really about.

That student already belonged here. She didn’t need a ballot to prove she was a real American. But participating in an election gave her a powerful sense of belonging, and I was grateful to have played a small part in that experience. It also strengthened my determination to keep helping young people register, learn about elections and participate in our democracy.

Passing it on

I often think about that cake my parents had waiting for me after my first vote. At the time, I thought they were making an awfully big fuss over something that took only a few minutes.

Now I understand.

They weren’t just celebrating one election. They were teaching me that my voice mattered. That’s what I want my students to know, too.

Whether it’s registering 250 students, helping someone find reliable voting information or simply accompanying a friend or family member to the polls, there are so many ways we can help people participate.

And maybe, years from now, one of my students will remember their first voting experience the way I remember mine. Maybe they’ll even celebrate with a cake.

Laurie LeFever is professor of Montclair State University and member of the Montclair State University Federation of Adjunct Faculty, AFT Local 6025

Republished with permission from AFT Voices