Charlotte Students March To Polls In Early Voting

Sawyer Hook, a UNC Charlotte student who founded the nonprofit The Greater Good during his freshman year, organized a march for students to vote on Tuesday, Oct. 28. About 20 campus organizations sent representatives to gather with signs near the student union around 3 p.m. The group then walked about a mile to a polling location.

The line of voters reached into the parking lot of the former University City Regional Library. For some students, this was their first time voting. U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., attended the polling location in her district.

Hook said he got the idea from marches organized by students at North Carolina A&T and other schools. He said his group is focused on turnout rather than a particular candidate. "I'm not one to tell people how to vote or who to vote for, but I am one to say to vote," Hook said. "Regardless of what I believe, I can't change the way other people think. However, I can change whether people vote and how eager they want to do that for themselves."

Students who joined the march described why they came. "It's very empowering and it's a very nice change to know that we as students can make a change and I'm glad that we're out here today doing it," said Jada Jewel, a UNC Charlotte student. Nyzia Heath, another UNC Charlotte student, said, "People before me have always been fighting for us to have a message and voice so I want to use my voice and do what my ancestors fought for their whole life."

Adams addressed the crowd at the polling site. "I think what's really important is that these young people understand that their vote does matter because some people would tell me well my vote doesn't matter well it won't matter if you don't cast it," she said.

UNC Charlotte hosted a polling location in 2024, according to a representative with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. The campus typically does not host one during midterm elections because of turnout. The march took place in the final days of early voting.