Leo Martinez, a 21-year-old computer science student at City College, geared up for his first experience at the polls by attending the Community Voter Registration Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
As he moved from table to table, Martinez focused on understanding the propositions and measures on the ballot. His primary concern as he prepared to vote was the issue of homelessness in San Diego.
“It’s a terrible thing, and I would definitely like to see those people better themselves or just not be there,” he said, underscoring the importance of social issues to first-time voters like himself.
Another City College student engaging with the political process at the event was 43-year-old Clark Jennings.
Jennings, who was previously homeless himself, said that this will be his first time voting in the presidential election since former President Barack Obama was in office.
The largest motivating factor for Jennings is the lack of resources that are aptly available for those facing homelessness.
“I think San Diego is a beautiful place to live,” Jennings said. “And I see more (people) homeless than I do people living a successful life, and that’s concerning.”
With the November 2024 election right around the corner, Student Affairs hosted the registration fair to make the process more accessible for students, staff, faculty and community members.
Attendees enjoyed music and food provided by Student Affairs, such as hot dogs and nachos, while also engaging with volunteers from local organizations including The San Diego LGBT Community Center, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and the League of Women Voters.
Aaron Ngan and Karina Piu represented The San Diego LGBT Community Center at the event, where they actively engaged with attendees.
One major concern for Ngan, the civic and community engagement specialist with the center, is housing for LGBT youth being threatened by forced outing policies such as those taking place in East County, San Diego.
“When we talk about housing, when we talk about these forced outing policies, they are really linked to one another,” Ngan said.
Under forced outing policies, Piu said, teachers and staff are required to inform parents if a student expresses different pronouns or identifies with a gender not assigned at birth.
“For some students, that can be a really unsafe environment at home for them,” said Piu, who is the policy and advocate coordinator for the center.
Rod Matthews, a member of the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate fraternity for African American men and one of the local organizations at the event, spoke about the importance of voting.
“To me, every person who is an American citizen has a share in this corporation that we call America,” Matthews said. “And the way you voice your opinion … is to cast your vote for who you want to be in leadership.”
Matthews says that one of the contributing factors to being at the event was the fraternity’s A Voteless People is a Hopeless People program, in which he sits as the chair of the committee.
The goal of the program is to get community members registered and engaged in voting, as well as to know what and who is on the ballot.
“So we’re all about getting people to engage in the political process,” Matthews said.
Those looking to register to vote have until Oct. 21 to complete their registration online. Following that date, voters may register in person through election day, Nov. 5, at the Registrar of Voters Office or at any vote center.
