Courtesy of Thomas Gay.
By Carrie Pinkard
The College Democrats and Turning Point USA are often found battling it out on the debate stage.
Since starting a debate series last semester, the groups have found they largely disagree on health care, immigration, gun control and foreign affairs. But one thing they do see eye to eye on is the importance of voting.
The opposing political groups have joined together with Student Government, the Center for Civic Engagement, the League of Women Voters, and Florida PIRG Students to form the USF St. Petersburg Vote Coalition. The coalition’s purpose is to bring as many students as possible to the polls for the 2020 primary and presidential elections.
“We want to make voting exciting because it really is so cool. Part of that is making voting more of an event,” said Arielle Mizrahi, Florida PIRG Students field organizer.
To build anticipation for the voting process, Mizrahi said the coalition will host a “March to the Coliseum” for the primary election next month, where students can walk together to their designated polling place.
Thomas Gay, a coordinator at the Center for Civic Engagement, said the center wanted to be involved in the coalition to better tailor future events to what students want.
“When it comes to events and programs, we want to offer what students are looking to see on campus,” Gay said. “No better way than to work with students from groups across the political spectrum, including Student Government. We’ve recently seen an increase in registration and turnout numbers. In 2020 and beyond, we want to see those trends grow even further.”
On Jan. 29, the coalition hosted a Poll Party in the Student Life Center atrium — its first event as a united group. Students were able to register to vote, suggest future debate topics and contribute to an art project about why they vote.
A straw poll was taken at the event to record who was the favorite 2020 presidential candidate among students. Bernie Sanders was the winner with 12 votes, followed by Elizabeth Warren with five and Donald Trump with two.
Kacy Cartmell, president of USF St. Petersburg’s Turning Point USA chapter, said she is looking forward to hosting a flag event with the coalition. At this event, students will be able to write why they choose to vote on a flag and place it in the ground around campus.
“I’m most excited about the flag event because people walking by it will be intrigued with what’s going on and will be more likely to join in,” Cartmell said. “I’m also interested to see all the different reasons why people vote.”
College Democrats President Trevor Martindale said he wanted his club to join the Vote Coalition because 2020 is “the most important election of our lifetime.”
Martindale said he is looking forward to upcoming debates with Turning Point USA and that the clubs plan to use the next debate to register voters.
That next debate will occur on Monday, March 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the University Student Center Ballrooms. Students can hear the groups debate on “Education in the United States.” Before or after enjoying the show, they can register to vote right outside the ballroom, where the League of Women Voters will have a registration table set up.
The Presidential Preference Primary in Florida is March 17, but the deadline to register to vote or change your political party affiliation is Feb. 18. Florida is a closed primary state, which means you can only vote for the candidates within your registered party.
Both Turning Point USA and the College Democrats agree it’s crucial that students show up to the polls.
“Voting allows your voice to be heard,” Cartmell said. “If you don’t vote, you miss out on the opportunity to express your opinion when it matters the most: at election time.”
Martindale said the most common excuse he hears for students not participating in the voting process is the feeling that their single vote won’t make a difference.
“I believe people must understand that political movements do not begin through an individual,” he said. “True change relies on collective action from multiple individuals.
“If you do not play your vital role as the individual who makes up the movement, the movement will inevitably fail.”
