'There are young people that care about the issues on the ballot'

Hopkins Votes, a university-wide, nonpartisan initiative run by the Center for Social Concern, hosted a National Voter Registration Day celebration on Tuesday to encourage student participation in the upcoming elections. Throughout the event, which featured free food, t-shirts, and music, student volunteers helped students check their voter registration status and access registration resources and absentee ballots.

Junior and South Carolina voter Arionna Bell, the student co-director of Hopkins Votes, stressed the importance of pro-voting events in the lead-up to November's election.

"Hopkins Votes is nonpartisan, so regardless of your political beliefs, we're celebrating you for making your voices heard," Bell said. "Registering to vote is a right, and it's a right you should utilize. There are so many policies and positions of power that are affected by our votes, ... [so] it is important to make our voices heard and let politicians know that there are young people that care about the issues on the ballot."

The event was held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Beach, allowing students to access voter registration resources between classes.

"[Turnout] has been beyond what we expected. This has exceeded past numbers," Bell said. "We're so thankful to the university for letting us have this space. It shows that the university also knows that this is an important event."

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

First-year student Alex Weiss, who ran a voter registration booth, reported a steady stream of registrations throughout the event. She said she was encouraged by students' interest.

"The best ways to advocate for change are to become involved in the electoral system," Weiss said. "I'm very passionate about it. ... In high school, I was able to volunteer with a number of organizations trying to get people to vote, and now that I can vote, it still remains an important part of how I think about my civic duty and my relationship with my country."

Nimue Mattingly, a first-year graduate student, was one of the students who approached Weiss's booth, where she picked up paperwork to switch her voter registration from Pennsylvania to Maryland. After walking away, Mattingly strongly encouraged other students to make sure they were registered as well.

"Do it now," she said. "Do it yesterday."

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

According to U.S. Census data, 82% of college students were registered to vote in the 2020 election, though only 66% of actually cast a ballot. Hopkins students exceeded this average with 74.6% of eligible students voting, a success that the university hopes to build upon.

Hopkins Votes' involvement doesn't end with Voter Registration Day. The next month and a half will be feature several events designed to encourage voting, including an Absentee Ballot Party on Oct. 8 and an Election Watch Party on Nov. 5. The group also held a Presidential Debate Watch Party earlier this month, complete with nonpartisan bingo boards.

JHU has additionally partnered with TurboVote, an online platform that helps users register to vote. TurboVote can also be used to check a voter's registration status, request absentee ballots, sign up for voting reminders, and more.

"[Ages] 18-24 have had the lowest voter turnout in the past few elections, so I think registering to vote and actually voting is one of the most important things you can do," said senior and Pennsylvania voter Elizabeth Zuerblis, a volunteer coordinator for Hopkins Votes. "Voting is one of the easiest ways to exercise your rights as a citizen and make your voice heard."

Johns Hopkins University is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution that does not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office.

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University