The Electoral Extravaganza hosted the Flashes Vote Festival on the K at Risman Plaza Tuesday to encourage and assist students to get registered for the Nov. 7 election.
The festival took place on National Voter Registration Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it brought together several student organizations and some outside organizations such as the League of Women Voters of Kent. Organized by Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and Kent State Votes, this was the third commencement of the event.
Zach Graves, USG Director of Governmental Affairs and Co-chair of Kent State Votes, called the festival a huge success.
“We’ve gotten a lot of people filling out absentee ballots, a couple voter registration forms over here, and I know the League of Women Voters has also gotten a lot of voter registration forms,” Graves said. “We’re happy to see the turnout, and it’s good to see all the organizations getting engagement as well.”
According to Graves, over two dozen students registered at the festival, with many more stopping by to check out student organization booths, fill out absentee ballot forms and learn more about candidates and the election process.
Julio Azpurua, a freshman aeronautical studies major, and Caitlin Mark, a sophomore nutrition major, were two of the students who registered at the festival.
“I think [voting] is a way to voice my opinion and have an impact in my community,” Azpurua said.
“[It’s a way] to be able to advocate for my country and use my democratic privilege,” Mark said.
There were a total of 11 organizations at the festival, including Black United Students (BUS), Flashes Activities Board (FAB), Ohio Student Association, Spanish and Latine Student Association (SALSA) and greek and sorority life. BUS’s e-board collaborated on a message to encourage fellow African American students to exercise their right to vote.
“Some may often feel as if their voice isn’t heard,” they said. “However there is power in numbers; Black people each have a powerful voice and, when combined, is unbeatable.”
The festival also featured free beignets, candy and t-shirts. There were also activities like custom button making at a booth run by FAB, one of the most popular at the event.
“I always think that having fun activities to do while serving for a bigger purpose like voter registration helps students get interested because they’re not just listening to a long lecture of why you should be doing this,” MaKayla Edmond, a FAB member and senior hospitality and event management major said. “They’re actually getting to do something that’s actively teaching them about the purpose being served.”
Kent State President Todd Diacon also made an appearance at the festival by handing out t-shirts and attracting students to the K. He shared a message as to why all should go out and vote.
“As an institution of higher education in a public university, we’re really part of that fabric of democracy, and an essential part of that fabric of democracy is voting,” Diacon said. “We want all of our eligible students, faculty and staff to vote, and we’re here to encourage them to register if they haven’t, and to participate in that hallmark of American democracy.”
John Engoglia is a beat reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
