<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2sQtpW_0wOThLYw00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2sQtpW_0wOThLYw00" width="1242" height="828" ></figure>The University of South Carolina Upstate is a vibrant community of energetic young individuals who are eager to make an impact and shape our collective future. As chancellor, I get to see this energy up close, every day, and it is inspiring.The significance of this energy becomes even more apparent during election years. Historically, though, students in America have too often opted out of the political process.Research shows that in the 2022 midterm elections, significantly fewer college students voted, compared with the 2018 midterms. With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, it is crucial to ensure that student voices are heard clearly.I have long understood the power of a young person’s voice. As a child, I heard messages from my father and my community, emphasizing that we must all participate. I fondly remember ABC television's Saturday morning “Schoolhouse Rock!” animations, and singing along to educational songs like “I’m Just a Bill” and “The Preamble.”I was also inspired by civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, whom I met while I was in third grade in Ruleville, Miss. She helped me to see that voting is both a privilege and a duty.As a college student, I eagerly joined the NAACP Silent March in Washington, DC, in 1989, which shaped my advocacy for laborers, farmers, and students in Mississippi. I knew that voting would influence the future of my community, state, and nation. When young people don't vote, they lose their say on crucial policies.A key barrier to voting can be the confusion around registration, especially for first-time voters. Clear resources and a simplified process are essential to encourage participation.At USC Upstate, we joined National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 17, contributing to anational drive to register more than 5 million Americans by the next election. By encouraging students to vote now, we are working to create lifelong voters who see civic engagement as an important part of their lives.Recently, I was thrilled to learn USC Upstate earned a Silver Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, based on our 2022 campus voting rate in the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. The 2020 election saw 3,673 of our students vote (a 68% rate). The 2022 midterm elections saw 1,336 of our students vote, which was about 12 percent higher than the national average.As the Presidential election nears, I urge all students to seize the opportunity to research the issues and vote. Your voice holds power and provides you the chance to influence decisions that will shape your future.The stakes are too high for you to opt out of the processEvery vote counts. Ensure yours is counted.Dr. Bennie L. Harris is chancellor at the University of South Carolina Upstate.This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Opinion: Campus initiatives work to create lifelong voters; here's why</div></body>

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Opinion: It's crucial for young voters to show up at the polls; here's why

The University of South Carolina Upstate is a vibrant community of energetic young individuals who are eager to make an impact and shape our collective future. As chancellor, I get to see this energy up close, every day, and it is inspiring. The significance of this energy becomes even more...