UHD Democrats is hosting a voter registration drive from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the third-floor mural area of One Main Building.
The drive is the first event run by UHD Democrats, which was formally established over winter break. The founders include undergraduate students Nicolas Baez, President; Yesenia Salinas, Vice President; and Fernando Cejudo, Social Media Director, as well as graduate student Star Walker, Officer. Dr. Christina Hughes, Social Sciences Associate Professor, serves as the group’s advisor.
Promoting civic engagement, political awareness, and participation in the democratic process are intrinsic to the mission of UHD Democrats. Beyond this, one of the motivators for the event, to Baez, is economic inequality, something he says "is rising rapidly, and students are getting the short end of the stick.”
Former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke will attend the drive until 3 p.m., while volunteers from his organization Powered by People will help attendees register to vote. From 3-5 p.m., O’Rourke and his team will attend a luncheon with student leaders.
Everyone on campus is encouraged to attend the voter registration drive. Baez urges fellow Gators to “recognize the importance of this upcoming year in making your voice heard. We’re here to facilitate that by encouraging more students to register to vote.”