By Darrel Wheeler, Contributing Writer and Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer 

The Black Resource Center, in partnership with the Harold K. Brown Knowledge, Education, and Empowerment Program, hosted their annual voter information and awareness event at SDSU. Held on Oct. 16th, the session highlighted the critical importance of voting in the upcoming elections, encouraging students and the community to take action and make their voices heard.

“It really boils down to education. We’re not just registering folks to vote. We’re registering informed voters,” said Jamaela Johnson, a panelist who serves as the chairman of Epsilon XI Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. 

Without advising or persuading anyone on who to or who not to vote for, the panel of speakers sharing the microphone informed the students about the power of their vote. 

“Your voice really does matter. I know that kind of feels like a statement everyone is saying, but, but it’s true. We saw like in the primaries, like Gen Z is taking over the polls, and these[ballot initiatives] that you are looking at this year are things that  can stick with you through many generations,” said Janine Ezomo, President of the Black Pre-law Association who was a panelist at the Oct. 16th event. 

Mariah Jameson, a policy staffer for the San Diego Board of Supervisors was also a panelists, and encouraged students to be “actively involved in educating our peers on things like propositions, measures, who’s locally running, of course, our presidents.” 

However,“ it’s not just about the presidency, “ panelist Sabrina Simon, who is the president of SDSU’s Afrikan Student Union. “There’s so much more on this ballot that has to do with your well being, with your education. Rent control is on them. Minimum wage, etc” shared Simon to the group of roughly fifty students who attended the event. 

The Vote & Amplify initiative at SDSU put together a voting guide “menu” for students to scan and look at from their phone that included information on local candidates and propositions being put forward in San Diego. 

Speakers also shared information on how to separate fact from fiction and how to recognize the usual “poli-tricks” that politicians play to secure your votes. 

The Vote and Amplify assembly was a great opportunity to learn all things related to voting with special attention on young voters.