A woman signing up to vote at a polling place (Adobe Stock / Drazen)

As midterm elections quickly approach, the determination of Florida A&M University students to vote is split evenly. 

For some, Election Day is a long-awaited date that warrants extensive research and preparation. However, for others, Election Day is simply another date on the calendar. 

While FAMU sits in Tallahassee, Florida, a mere 10 blocks away from the Florida State Capitol, proximity doesn’t always mean presence.  

According to LeonVotes.Gov, despite over 2,750 students living on campus during the fall semester of 2024. Only 1,445 voters turned out to the on-campus polls during the 2024 election season.  

At Florida State University, over 7,336 voters came out. Voter apathy is a common source of low turnout rates, as is a lack of understanding of who’s on the ballot or what’s at stake. 

Many students are taking matters into their own hands, informing and educating themselves about the candidates on the ballot and the issues discussed during this year’s election.  

Others remain unmotivated to vote, as they feel they may not be sufficiently informed to cast a ballot this year. 

“I really haven’t really had the time to inform myself of the way I would like to. Typically, I vote or lean more Democratic, but because of studies and parenting, I haven’t had the opportunity to be as educated as I normally am,” said Dre McIntosh, a fourth-year student. 

Busy lives and schedules are among the common reasons many students stated they aren’t 

informed. However, students like Zarian Gaines feel that the university could take more proactive measures to inform and motivate students to vote. 

“Host events, but really advertise them like they would a fun event, like a crab boil or ‘Set Friday’,” stated Gaines. “This should have the same kind of outreach for something that is gonna be affecting me and my compatriots every single day.” 

On the other hand, many other students are conducting research on their own to ensure they are prepared to make their vote count in this year’s general election. 

“I’m just going to have to take a day before the election to just sit down and read everything. And I would like to talk to my mom about politics too,” Ava Gant, a second-year student, said.  

Early voting this year begins on Oct. 19 and extends to Election Day on Nov. 3 with voting areas located both on campus at the FAMU Efferson Student Union and at various locations around Leon County.