East Texas A&M University students are prepared to perform their civic duty in upcoming elections following a voter registration rally in the Rayburn Student Center on September 15.

The Office of Student Engagement organized the “Lions Vote” booth in the student center atrium and assisted students in checking their current registration status and providing forms for students to register.

According to a study from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, more than 75% of all students at U.S. colleges were registered to vote in 2024 elections, and 53% of all college students voted. This was a decrease from the record-breaking college student turnout of 2020, but still above 2012 and 2016, showing a general upward trend in student participation.

Helena Eddy, a junior majoring in Wildlife and Conservation Science, said she felt it was important to register to have a say in American politics.

“It’s important to make choices that matter,” Eddy said. “One of the best ways to do that is by voting.”

Michael Richardson, a junior Sociology major, echoed those sentiments.

“We’re at a point in our nation’s history where sitting on the fence is similar to sitting on a knife’s edge,” Richardson said.

Kailee Bennett, ETAMU coordinator for civic engagement, was one of the employees assisting students at the registration booth. She said that seeing so many students show interest in voting was a positive sign.

“It’s great to see that our students want to be heard,” Bennett said. “For upcoming elections, our office will provide shuttles to local polling locations for students who are registered to vote in Commerce.”

For more information about voting resources, see your local county’s election materials or visit the Texas Secretary of State website.