Kean Voting squad: Action Based Leadership and Bipartisan Change

Leannette Alvarado Garcia

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: BA.PSY/FORENSICPSY

Faculty Research Mentor: Adara Goldberg

Abstract:

The student body at Kean University is one of the most ethnically and economically diverse in the Northeast, and yet disenfranchisement and inequality is still a concern. In 2020, found to have the highest voter turnout seen in recent years, even when compared to the past 2024 election. Individuals from Black and Indigenous communities had been down thirteen percent in the years prior to the 2020 election year. The intentional actions from the Kean’s Voting Squad strive to help correct this disparity that is seen in access to voting and voter education. Students on the squad promote the ideology of “Guiding for Good: Leading through Change” by encouraging and promoting participation on the University campus. The Squad educates students on the overall voting process and ways to stay engaged, such as volunteering or serving as poll workers. Due to their efforts, the Voting Squad at Kean University placed second in the Ballot Bowl. Due to the bipartisan engagement within their community, the Voting Squad increased voter turnout. The importance and relevance of voter turnout within BIPOC community voting continues to grow. The engagement of the Squad encourages individuals within their community to engage in many parts of the voting process, pushing the newer generation into using their voice to advocate for what they believe. Generation Z is becoming more interactive and learning how to advocate by voting. As time goes on, the importance of Generation Z voices becomes more prevalent for their lives, and many are noticing.