Greenville students spend MLK Day of Service registering voters
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a traditional day of service in Greenville and other cities, a group of students from the Students in Action group at Greenville Tech Charter High School conducted voter registration at the Belk department store at Haywood Mall. The event was coordinated by student Hanaa Khan, an LWV intern.
By Hanaa Kahn
On MLK Day, Jan. 15, the volunteers and I started setting up the necessary materials, setting the stage for what we hoped would be a successful voter registration event.
Many people started arriving by the time we finished assembling everything. We greeted whoever came by our tables with a warm hello and asked if they were registered. Most people were, but they were all very friendly and even provided anecdotes to us about their first time voting. Several people came up to us and stated that they appreciated our initiative and effort.
Hanaa Kahn, right, and her sister, Rida registering voters at Belk on MLK Day
The hustle-and-bustle Belk provided was a great backdrop for engaging with a diverse range of people, each of them with their unique stories and perspectives. From regular shoppers to first-time visitors, the common thread was the shared commitment to civic participation. Every person we interacted with further motivated us to continue promoting voter registration. Even when some people didn’t register, there was a sense of pride we all had for spreading awareness.
When we met the first person who wanted to register to vote, I was beyond excited and happy for them. A young man, with a determined expression, approached the table where we sat surrounded by voter registration forms and cards. As he filled out the required information on the registration form, I could sense his enthusiasm. I noticed a genuine curiosity in his eyes as he asked questions about the registration process and deadlines. Responding with a sense of shared purpose, the volunteers and I explained each step, emphasizing the impact of his individual voice in shaping the future.
I noticed this same behavior with the three other people we got to register. Each time they handed over the registration form, I would realize that a subtle yet meaningful exchange had occurred – a connection created through the understanding that democracy thrives when people contribute.
By the time we finished the event, we had registered four people, spoken to 341, gave out 25 cards and eight stickers. It was a great moment for both me and all the volunteers. We had all been productive and contributed to democracy. We couldn’t have asked for anything more.