Texas by Maya

Texas by Maya - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

I have been anticipating my eighteenth birthday with a certain amount of glee. In particular, my excitement surrounds the much awaited responsibility of voting. I will not be the typical quadrennial voter. No, I will be at the ballot box every election day to vote for everything from governor to minor word changes in the state constitution. Unfortunately, the majority of our nation does not share the same fervor for practicing its First-Amendment right. United States voting participation is in decline. It is astounding and baffling to me that the United States, a country that was still fighting for every citizen’s right to vote only 50 years ago, has one of the lowest voter turnouts of developed countries.
After serving twice as an election clerk and having committed pages of Texas election law to memory, I have seen first-hand the difficulties and frustrations that still impede many from voting. New photo identification laws continue the disenfranchisement of many voters. Lack of information and registration deadlines over a month in advance to actual elections only stop well meaning citizens from voting. Voter fraud is much less likely than being struck by lighting and the benefits are rarely worth the penalty of being charged with a federal crime. I would like to help reverse the trend. That is why I would like to have dinner with the civil rights leader and voting rights activist, Amelia Boynton Robinson.
Through peaceful protest, staging marches, and running for office, Boynton was a major contributor in helping the Voting Rights Act of 1964 get passed. She became the first woman of color to run for office in Alabama and the first woman to run for Congress there. Winning ten percent of the vote was a feat, given the widespread racism in Alabama and the fact that voting was an extremely dangerous activity for people of color. Boynton helped organize the march through Montgomery that later became known as Bloody Sunday and served as a catalyst for federal action and national change in the form of the Voting Rights Act that finally recognized the adversity African Americans faced in attempting to vote. I attribute my adamant engagement in the democratic process to women and men like Amelia Boynton. There are thousands who have died for my right to vote, it would be disrespectful to them to neglect my duty as a citizen. To do my part, I created Modern VOX.
Modern VOX is dedicated to aiding students in becoming informed and exuberant lifelong voters who form political opinions based on personal beliefs independent of parental influence. My goal is to register every age-eligible student on my campus by May 2016. In an effort to increase engagement, we have hosted debate watch parties, trivia games, and guest speakers. We are a diverse group, some members watch politics like others watch competitive sports, and some don’t know the difference between Jeb and George. But we all wish to improve the political mechanisms of our country. With the help of Modern VOX, lack of information will no longer be an excuse for young voters to not turn out.
I held a voter registration drive right before the deadline to register for the primary election. I was able to register 84 new voters at my school, most of which had no idea that the deadline was that week and would have missed the chance to vote in their very first primary. In April, my school district is planning to open a new event for students that focuses on planning for life after graduation, whether that be pursuing higher education or entering the workforce. I will host a seminar about the importance of voting and the mission of Modern VOX. I will also have an all day voter registration drive. This event will be open to all Juniors and Seniors in the district a little more than 300 students are expected to attend.
I am sure Mrs.Robinson could impart some wisdom onto the current political climate and what can be done to raise the youth vote. When she was fighting, people wanted to vote, but were being obviously thwarted, now the obstacles are still subtle, but very real. I think that a conversation with Mrs. Robinson would help me reach the ultimate goal for Modern VOX, its growth beyond its Dallas roots into a national campaign to engage new voters. This is a lofty ambition, but the mobilization of young people to create a more politically conscious public is imperative to the future of our democracy.