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Voter turnout at Florida A&M University’s on-campus precinct has declined since the 2022 primary election, raising concerns about student engagement in the electoral process.
The FAMU Student Union precinct saw 1,326 voters in the most recent election, down from 1,577 in the 2022 primary, according to official precinct data. This 16% decrease comes despite the convenience of the on-campus voting location.
Chris Moore, Deputy Supervisor of Elections, offered insight into the potential reasons for the slowdown.
“The turnout is a little slow as students are making their way back into town and dealing with their housing arrangements,” Moore told the Tallahassee Democrat.
However, some students suggest the lower numbers don’t tell the whole story. FAMU student Jakayla Strickland says students have used alternative methods for voting.
“Although I think the numbers should be higher, we have to think about all the ways students can vote,” Strickland said.”Yes, the precinct on campus is convenient, but many students vote by mail or at different locations.”
The data shows a strong Democratic lean among student voters, with 923 out of 1,326 registered as Democrats in the recent election. The majority of voters fall into the 18-30 age group, as expected on a college campus.
Miracle Kennerly, another FAMU student, believes the university could do more to encourage participation.
“The school should spread information to students and let them know how they can get registered to vote,” Kennerly said.
She also emphasized the need for student organizations to take an active role. “They need to do more events focused on voter registration and get students excited to vote,” Kennerly added.
The age breakdown of voters provides additional context. In the recent election, 165 voters were in the 18-25 age group, and 72 were 26-30. This compares to 1,025 voters aged 18-25 and 220 aged 26-30 in the 2022 primary, indicating a significant drop in youth voter participation.
As the 2024 election nears, voters should be mindful of important deadlines to ensure they can cast their ballots. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. For those opting to vote by mail, requests for mail-in ballots must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Oct. 24. Early voting is set for Oct. 26 through Nov. 2, with optional early voting days available on Oct. 21-25 and Nov. 3. Election Day is Nov. 5.
For more information about voter registration and election dates, visit the Leon County Supervisor of Elections website.