Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett recently welcomed Columbia State Community College Student Government Association President Sasha Erickson to the annual College Civic Engagement Luncheon in Nashville.
“My office has partnered with colleges and universities across the state to register thousands of students to vote,” said Secretary Hargett. “Student leaders are essential to working with our office to increase voter registration. I appreciate Columbia State SGA President Sasha Erickson’s commitment to increasing the number of registered voters on campus.”
SGA leaders from more than 20 colleges and universities attended the College Civic Engagement Luncheon. Each year, Secretary Hargett invites SGA Presidents from every college and university across the state to join their fellow student leaders to discuss the importance of civic engagement and voter registration on their respective campuses in preparation for National Voter Registration Month in September.
“Although the age group of 18-24 years old have the lowest voter turnout, this luncheon included student leaders of that age range eager to educate and inspire those around to register and vote,” said Erickson. “With each student leader and college campus participation I believe that we can and will make a difference to combat this shocking statistic and am confident that at Columbia State we are equipped with all the necessary tools to spark interest on our campuses for voting, as each vote county and statewide truly does make a difference.”
The Secretary of State’s office sponsors the Tennessee College Voter Registration Competition during National Voter Registration Month. The winning schools are selected based on the number of new students registered to vote relative to the size of their student body as well as their social media engagement in promoting the Tennessee College Voter Registration Competition.
“The annual College Civic Engagement Luncheon is a wonderful opportunity for SGA members and college staff responsible for civic engagement at colleges and universities from across the state to come together to get excited and prepared to get college students registered to vote,” said Tia Lammert Miller, Columbia State student development coordinator. “I am particularly excited that our SGA President Sasha Erickson was able to attend and see the importance of getting her peers to register and to the polls to vote. We are excited to get students registered this fall through our National Voter Registration Day events!”
