In an effort to inform students about the importance of voting, a voter encouragement rally and march was held Wednesday, Oct. 25 in the Memorial Student Center.Its purpose was to motivate students, and advise them of how vital their votes are. The assembly featured several candidates who are running for offices in Waller County, including Dewayne Charleston and Sylvia Cedillo. Candidates spoke to students about how critical voting is and how important it is that they exercise their right to vote.
Also in attendance was Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, who represents the 18th congressional district of Texas. Lee gave a powerful speech advising students on how they have the opportunity to directly impact the future of the university as well as the community. Lee reminded students about the march in 2004, when Prairie View students were battling to corroborate themselves as Waller County residents, and to maintain their right to vote.
“Prairie View is symbolic of the failure of the United States to acknowledge the rights of African American voters. You are the faces of the 21st century civil rights movement,” said Lee
The rally was directly followed by the march. Despite rain and dreary weather conditions, students assembled outside the student center and marched to the Prairie View community center, where they were able to cast early ballots. In order to vote, students needed to be registered and have a state issued identification card. Students were able to vote for a variety of offices in Waller County, including criminal district attorney, county judge, county court at law judge, district clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, commissioners in precincts 2 and 4, and justice of the peace in all four precincts.
Troy Charleston, a senior business major and member of the student government association, said, “The goal of this march is to unite students, and to encourage them to stand up as Waller County citizens. This demonstration will reassure everyone that Prairie View students care about what happens in the community, and we will show up and vote in numbers to prove it.