FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Today is National Voter Registration Day and a national bus tour came to Fort Valley State University to register students to vote.
It was part of a Black Youth Renaissance Tour with the "Black Voters Matter" organization, but there was a sweet treat for the students and staff.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry's ice cream announced a new ice cream flavor called "Churn to the Vote" to encourage students to not just register to vote but vote. Greenfield says he wants the young voters to care about elections.
"Not just the presidential election but all the way down the ballot," Greenfield said. "If you want to have your voice heard, you have to vote. You can't just complain about things. If you want things to change, if you care about issues, you gotta vote."
Sophomore student Meiyah Plummer told 13WMAZ this was her first time registering to vote. She says she thought it would be difficult.
"Everything is a lot easier but like if you were to go like in person to like an actual registration, I feel like it would be a lot harder," Plummer said.
Tufts University researchers say 66% of college students voted in 2020, and they expect that increase this year. Cliff Albright with the Black Voters Matter Fund says the young generation is the engine of change.
"It's important for them to come out because their issues are on the ballot. The issues they care about," Albright said. "Whether it be gun violence, which our young folk care about. Whether it be education and HBCU funding, whether it be abortion rights, which our young folks care about. Whether it be marijuana legalization, or criminal justice reform, or police violence, or climate change, right? All of those issues are on the ballot and they have the power, to impact all of those issues."
Plummer says registering to vote was easy. All she needed was her full name, mailing address, and a valid ID. She says this election is important for everyone and one important issue to her is abortion rights.
"I feel as though every woman should be able to, do whatever they want to their body regardless of, you know, the extension of the event," Plummer said.