In late 2021, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill named after the iconic civil rights activist and congressman, failed to [receive] the votes necessary to be debated in the senate, and effectively died. The provisions of the bill would have strengthened the Justice Department’s ability to examine and preapprove election conditions for states with a history of voter discrimination, particularly against minority groups. In the same month that the bill was axed, The New York Times reported that Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin III of West Virginia — two key democratic opponents of voting rights legislation in the last year — have attracted new financial support from conservative-leaning donors. In such a political climate, it is easy to see how college students can find themselves convinced of their own powerlessness. However, now is not the time to give up on our vision of democracy. As unprecedented as the present may seem, the progress we, as a new generation, aspire to is only made possible by the foundation laid down by those before us, such as John Lewis.
Democracy Matters is a national organization dedicated to engaging young people in protecting American democracy. It has chapters at universities across the country, and has begun the process of becoming officially recognized at Mount Holyoke College. Democracy Matters founder, Joan Mandle, says: “Democracy joins with its partners - over 250 other national organizations- who are committed to ensuring that every American citizen can vote.” Issues of exceptional pertinence for the collective include the advancement of voting rights, campaign finance reform and raising of political empowerment in the local community. However, students often take advantage of the intersectional aspect of the organization’s mission, and call attention to many other issues that are affected by voting rights such as racial justice, reproductive rights and gun control. In the past, students at Mount Holyoke have attended political rallies, held voter registration drives, and participated in lobbying workshops as a part of Democracy Matters.
The significance of defending the integrity of American elections is not a concept lost on the modern, smartphone wielding, college student. This is apparent just by scrolling through tweets that invoke political action or tapping through the Instagram stories of empathetic tech activists, hoping that their share will create a larger change. Politics is a routine part of students’ daily lives, whether they know it or not.
If you are interested in continuing your activism in a more formal way and supporting your peers in doing so, email Kyung Ju Lee ’24 — lee45k@mtholyoke.edu — for more information on how to get involved.
– Kyung Ju Lee ’24