CINCINNATI — Fewer younger voters in Ohio are signing up to cast their ballots, but some college students are trying to change that. 

What You Need To Know

  • Recent numbers show younger voter registration in Ohio is down 18% so far 

  • University of Cincinnati students say issues like abortion rights, marijuana legalization, and minimum wage will get them to the polls 

  • One student helped to create a day off to give students a chance to get to the polls
Article - Your Voter Guide

A 23-year-old student, Raphael Hicks, is on a mission at the University of Cincinnati.

“Voting was not always a right for people of color, so that’s one reason I’m so passionate about it,” Hicks said. 

He became a senate speaker for undergraduate student government, and with the mid-term election coming up, he’s trying to get more young people to vote.

“I know a big barrier for some people is ‘I have classes, you have other responsibilities that day, so when will I have time to even vote?’” Hicks said.  

Recent numbers show for voters aged 18-24, registration in Ohio is already down 18%.

Inside political science classrooms at UC, there’s a discussion happening on the issues that might just bring more students to the polls. 

Students say the legalization of marijuana, abortion rights, minimum wage and climate change were some issues that mean the most to them.

That’s why their professor, David Niven is making his own prediction about younger voter turnout.

“Young person turnout is gonna be high for a mid-term election, it’s not gonna be high, it’s not gonna compare to the 2020, but high for a mid-term election,” Niven said.

Hicks was part of a team who spoke out to the university to make sure students can have their say. 

“One of those was adding voting day as a academic holiday for students on campus so this year, Nov. 8, students will have no classes and we’ll be able to vote freely on that day,” Hicks said.

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