University Southern California Trojans
Trojans Attend Voting Literacy Events
September 29, 2020 | USC Athletics
In an effort to remove barriers, increase education and encourage civic engagement, USC Athletics' Black Lives Matter Action Team recently hosted two voting literacy workshops for USC student-athletes and staff.
Jeff Klein, the manager of civic engagement, community relations and legislation for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, hosted both events via Zoom.
Klein shared basic voting information with the Trojans, but also encouraged them to think of issues important to them, and make a plan to vote based on the candidates who share their vision.
"You do vote for candidates, but what you're really voting for are issues that that candidate connects with," said Klein. "All candidates embody a set of issues. So whether you're voting for president or you're voting for mayor, those individuals embody a set of issues and when we vote, you're actually looking for a set of values or a set of issues that align with your own."
USC student-athletes and staff identified homelessness, gentrification, COVID-19 and rent as a few issues that mattered to them.
Klein shared a number of reasons why it's important for USC student-athletes to vote. First, he explained that Los Angeles County is the most diverse county in the nation. He also noted that LA has 6.1 million eligible voters (a little over 5.5 million of which are registered), and that those 5.5+ million registered voters are more than 43 other states have statewide. Lastly, he shared that 18-to-30-year-olds make up the largest age demographic in LA, but that group also has the lowest voter turnout.
In order to increase voter turnout among Trojans, Klein suggested a four-step plan:
For more information on voting in LA County, visit LAVote.net.
To check the voter registration deadline in your state, click here!
To stay up-to-date on USC Athletics' Black Lives Matter Action Team, visit USCTrojans.com/BLM.
Jeff Klein, the manager of civic engagement, community relations and legislation for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, hosted both events via Zoom.
Klein shared basic voting information with the Trojans, but also encouraged them to think of issues important to them, and make a plan to vote based on the candidates who share their vision.
"You do vote for candidates, but what you're really voting for are issues that that candidate connects with," said Klein. "All candidates embody a set of issues. So whether you're voting for president or you're voting for mayor, those individuals embody a set of issues and when we vote, you're actually looking for a set of values or a set of issues that align with your own."
USC student-athletes and staff identified homelessness, gentrification, COVID-19 and rent as a few issues that mattered to them.
Klein shared a number of reasons why it's important for USC student-athletes to vote. First, he explained that Los Angeles County is the most diverse county in the nation. He also noted that LA has 6.1 million eligible voters (a little over 5.5 million of which are registered), and that those 5.5+ million registered voters are more than 43 other states have statewide. Lastly, he shared that 18-to-30-year-olds make up the largest age demographic in LA, but that group also has the lowest voter turnout.
In order to increase voter turnout among Trojans, Klein suggested a four-step plan:
- Register to Vote (Visit VoteUSC.com to register!)
- Make a Plan to Vote (Check your voter registration status, receive and review your sample ballot, receive vote by mail ballot, determine method to return VBM ballot, and if you prefer to vote in person, vote early)
- Vote
- Stay Engaged (Serve as an election worker, attend local government meetings, contact local representatives)
- September 24: Mailing of Sample Ballot Books
- October 5: Mailing of Vote by Mail Ballots, First Day that Vote by Mail Drop Boxes Open
- October 19: Official Registration Deadline in California
- October 24: 11-Day Vote Centers Open: 10 am to 7 pm (Approx. 75 locations)
- October 30: Galen Center and Other 5-Day Vote Centers Open (Approx. 725 locations)
- November 3: Election Day, Vote Centers Open 7 am to 8 pm, Conditional Voter Registration Can Occur at Vote Center
For more information on voting in LA County, visit LAVote.net.
To check the voter registration deadline in your state, click here!
To stay up-to-date on USC Athletics' Black Lives Matter Action Team, visit USCTrojans.com/BLM.
WATCH A VOTER LITERACY EVENT BELOW:
Monday, July 06
Tuesday, June 23
Thursday, May 14
Monday, October 06
