V.O.M.O. Logo
PRAIRIE VIEW (October 14, 2020) – Two faculty members in Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU)’s Division of Social Work, Behavioral & Political Sciences are leading the charge for making a voting plan in the upcoming election with the Vote or Miss Out Challenge (V.O.M.O.).
Beverly Spears, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the social work department, and Ralph Morales, Ph.D., a history instructor, are both members of the division’s Community Engagement Committee, which seeks to engage the university community and the community-at-large with research and educational activities.
“Since this is the year for the presidential election and voting, the committee felt it was important to educate our students and community about their rights to vote, and the various methods of voting,” said Spears, who also serves as chair of the committee. “The idea to conduct a challenge came in response to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s and Kevin Hart’s call to action on a non-partisan TV program.”
The PVAMU V.O.M.O. is simple: check to see if you’re officially registered, decide how you will vote, and prepare ten friends and family for Election Day. In Texas, the deadline for mail-in applications is Oct. 23. In-person early voting is from Oct. 13-30, and in-person election day voting is Nov. 3.
“We wanted to find a way to encourage our students to vote and to take that enthusiasm for voting back to their homes and communities, as well as to friends who may attend other schools,” Spears said. “All indications about this election have shown that voter turnout is going to be massive, which can only be a good thing. We want our students and members of the community to be aware that there are other ways to vote, either by requesting a ballot by mail or by participating in early voting, to avoid the rush on Election Day.”
While PVAMU students cannot vote early on campus, there will be a polling place in the Memorial Student Center on Election Day, Nov. 3. Nearby early voting locations are available on the Waller County website. While the last day to register to vote in Texas was Oct. 5, Spears urges it is still a good idea to ensure that you remain registered.
“We are in unprecedented times and experiencing a great number of crises and events that are affecting everyone — a pandemic, police brutality, Black Lives Matter, high unemployment rates, lack of and insufficient healthcare, and homelessness,” Spears said. “This election is an important event and calls for everyone to make a plan. One needs to make a plan detailing when, where, and how they will vote.”
The committee disseminated information about the challenge by developing a flyer about registering to vote and early voting facts. They also shared a PowerPoint presentation created by local school psychologist Anjelica Greene, Ph.D., LSSP, and a website interview with Greene and Morales. Each faculty member in the division was asked to post the information onto their Canvas platform, challenging their students to register to vote, and share the information with friends and family.
“While the challenge was originally intended for our division, it has expanded to other groups and departments on campus,” Spears said.
Morales and Spears encourage everyone to make a voting plan for the upcoming election.
“I think it is vital that our students participate in voting as a way of ensuring that their voices are heard,” Morales said. “If we want change in our cities, states, and communities, elections are the surest way to make that happen. We want our students to be engaged in the voting process during this vital year of a presidential election, but also every other year that local officials are elected to office.”
“For change to happen, everyone needs to make a plan to vote,” Spears said. “Everyone’s voice is important, and the best way to make our voices heard is to vote. Not voting is not a choice, but choosing the best person for the job is a choice.”
For more information about voting in Texas, visit www.texastribune.org/series/texas-voter-registration or www.democracy.works/covid-19. You can also visit www.pvamu.edu/sa/pvamu-votes.
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By Kendall Hebert