KENNESAW, Ga. — With just seven weeks left before the general election and even less time to register to vote, organizations across metro Atlanta are ramping up efforts to ensure voters are prepared.
On National Voter Registration Day, PODER Latinx teamed up with students at Kennesaw State University to help them create their own voting plans. The initiative aims to empower students by providing voter registration services and promoting awareness of key election issues.
"Are you registered to vote?" echoed across the campus green as Alicia Olguin, a student volunteer, approached fellow students. She and her peers collaborated with PODER Latinx to not only help register students but also to engage them in conversations about the issues that matter most.
"I know a lot of people are already registered," Olguin said. "But some people might have moved and don't know what their current status is. We've been able to help people check, and a few have registered throughout the morning."
Olguin mentioned that while many students haven’t been discussing specific candidates, immigration reform and environmental issues have emerged as top concerns.
Kennesaw State student Charles Barammeier echoed the sentiment, saying that while he’s already registered, the focus for many students seems to be on key issues rather than presidential candidates.
"When it comes to pro-life versus pro-choice and Second Amendment issues in this country, I don't think either candidate quite has it right," Barammeier said.
Meanwhile, Kimberly Marino, a first-time voter, registered for the election in just minutes.
"It literally took half a minute to fill out," she said, surprised by how quick the process was through Georgia’s Secretary of State’s My Voter Page, where voters can verify their registration and locate their polling place.
For Marino, the decision to register came after hearing from fellow students and realizing that voting could be simpler than she expected.
"I thought it would take like 30 minutes, and I’d have to go somewhere else to finish," Marino said. "But it was so easy."
As the registration deadline on Oct. 7 approaches, many students, like Marino, are thinking ahead about how their votes can help shape the future.
"We all have our differences, and there are different political parties," Marino added. "But I hope we can all come together and work together."
With the election approaching fast, students at Kennesaw State—and across Georgia—are preparing to make their voices heard.