Students attend the 2024 Presidential Debate watch party, hosted by the College Democrats.
Photo by Riley Benson | The Crow’s Nest
By Riley Benson
As the 2024 election approaches, students across campus are gearing up to participate in “one of the most important elections” in American politics.
From campus voter registration drives to debate watch parties, many students are not only preparing to cast their ballots for the first time, but on-campus organizations and departments are working to increase civic engagement.
At the beginning of this semester, on Aug. 29 the USF St. Petersburg Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), hosted a “Campaign Internship and Volunteer Fair” that brought together more than 16 candidates and campaigns from Pinellas County for all students on campus to learn more about the election.
Dr. Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan is a political science professor at USF and the director of the CCE. Initially, she planned to have the Campaign Fair to help her students in her course The Campaign Process, that she teaches in the fall every four years.
“When I taught this class in fall 2020, we were actually doing live synchronous classes and I had students working on 20 different campaigns peak pandemic,” she said.
Now, the course currently has students working on 13 different campaigns, with about a 50/50 split between those working with Republicans and those working with Democrats.
For those unable to attend the fair, CCE created a virtual fair where students can learn more about working with local campaigns and organizations on campus, like the re-election campaign for Lindsay Cross for the Florida State House or the College Democrats (St. Petersburg campus) club.
McLauchlan is also the advisor for the College Democrats club to help student gain opportunities and be active during this election season.
Recently, for the presidential debate on Sept. 10, College Dems (for short) hosted a debate watch party.
The event had over 20 students in attendance, along with members of the Harris/Walz campaign and the Pinellas County Democratic Party.
Michael Sherosky, the secretary of the Pinellas County Democratic Party, was also present and told The Crow’s Nest that this was his first time attending an on-campus event and that he was excited to see so many students come out to watch the debate.
“The goal of college democrats is to educate and invite students into the world of politics,” said the president of College Dems.
During the commercial break for the event, College Dems gave informed interested students about how to get involved in volunteering with the campaigns and mobilizing other young voters.
“We understand that politics are confusing. So, we do bill breakdowns, we get [students] internships, we get them involved in politics at a local level and we teach them that politics is not just something you can care about, but something that can be a career,” she said.
Meanwhile, CCE, Student Government and the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area worked together to host at “Donuts & Democracy.”
Sept. 17 was National Voter Registration Day, and sporting her “My job is voting” in the Barbie movie font, McLauchlan and others, helped students to register to vote with a little bit of encouragement with free donuts.
“It’s vital for everyone to check their registration status because many voters have actually been tossed off the voter rolls without their knowledge,” she said. “If you moved or somehow need to make updates, now is the time to make [them]. You have until Oct. 7, which is really just around the corner.”
Some of McLauchlan’s students from her The Campaign Process class were in attendance talking about how they’re preparing for the election and what issues are most important to them.
“It is our responsibility to be engaged and to be involved and to make our voice heard. It’s not only our right, but it’s our responsibility,” McLauchlan said.
To connect with young voters, later on in the semester, clubs will host events that have a fun twist on pop-culture, like “Brats Vote Blue!” on Sept. 25, in SLC2100 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with College Dems.
Other organizations on campus are taking a similar approach to encourage young voters. “Spooky Sex Fest” with Planned Parenthood Generation Action at the St. Petersburg campus, happening this Halloween, will aim to educate students about safe sex and Amendment 4 (the right to abortion before viability when necessary to protect the patient’s health).
During the 2020 elections in Florida, 54% of registered voters between the ages of 18 and 29 cast a ballot, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Understanding what’s on the ballot, and having a voice is crucial this upcoming election.
Readers can check their voter registration status at vote.org, get updates about events happening on campus by visiting the CCE’s Facebook page.
