We are alarmed and discouraged by news reports that suggest the Fulton County Board of Elections may not offer polling locations on college and university campuses in Fulton County. As the Board finalizes its early voting plans for the upcoming November 8 General Election, we implore the Board to include an early voting location on the campus of Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Atlanta Metropolitan, and at Atlanta University Center (AUC), which encompasses Morris Brown College, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. Civic engagement has been and continues to be paramount to our institutions’ goals. Voting in Georgia was already too difficult, especially for young voters and Black voters, and now anti-voter law S.B. 202 has placed myriad more obstacles in our way. In the wake of historic and unprecedented attacks on our democracy, we believe our local government should do all it can to ensure easy and unencumbered access to the ballot.

Many of our classmates will be exercising our most fundamental right to vote for the first time this fall. The Fair Fight U chapters at Georgia Tech, Spelman, and Morehouse are committed to ensuring our communities have an equitable chance to participate in the civic life of our city, state, and country. We look forward to continuing to work toward a more perfect democracy this election season and beyond.

Signed:

Georgia Institute of Technology Fair Fight U Chapter President, Isaiah Thompson 

Georgia Institute of Technology Fair Fight U Chapter Co-President Nyla Duhon

Morehouse College Fair Fight U President, Bennie Williams 

Spelman College Fair Fight U President, Cheyenne Henry

Spelman College Fair Fight U First Vice President, Ari Haygood