The Bronx has historically come up short in the voting department, especially among young adults. It clocks the lowest rate of 18-year-old registered voters in the state.
The Civics Center estimated in May 2024 that 19% of Bronx County 18-year-olds were registered to vote. Compare that to Westchester County, where 40% of 18-year-olds have ticked the boxes on the registration form. But there’s still time to make a better showing. October 26 is the deadline to register for the November Presidential election.
Jerry Rosa, director of student activities at Hostos Community College, is the voter registration coordinator for the non-partisan CUNY Votes Program. He organized voter registration on campus at the start of the semester.
“All the welcome day events, we did voter registration,” said Rosa, who registered only four students during the festivities.
Most of the students who stopped by the table were already registered. But they didn’t leave empty-handed. “We gave them an American flag,” Rosa added.
That was just one of the many efforts underway at Hostos to increase participation by the October 26 deadline so students are ready to vote in the November 5 presidential election.
And registrations have already picked up at the school.
During the tabling event on Sept. 10th by Faith In New York, a non-profit focused on civic engagement, 35 people registered in one hour.
Marilyn Joseph, the group’s organizing director, said it was “one of our highest turnouts for this small amount of time. Usually, we might have to spend four or five hours to really engage at this level. It’s been working really well to be here today.”
While successful, Joseph said that most students do not want to engage, and often tell her “I don’t want to register because I am not into politics. “
That isn’t the case for Moussaoro Jawaro, an 18-year-old Hostos Freshman.
“Based on our votes, it depends on, like, who’s going to be the next president, next vice president, you know?” said Jawaro on voting for the first time in November. “So I feel like it is important.”
But she’s not psyched about the choices. “I’m pro-Gaza. Okay, [Kamala Harris] supports all of the things that are going on in Gaza.”
“I also would not like [Donal Trump] to be my president, he doesn’t really do anything for us.”
William Cecillio Bravo, another Hostos Freshman, just turned 18 and is concerned about the economy. He’s looking forward to voting. Bravo’s sister, who has been eligible to vote since 2020, not so much. She isn’t planning on casting a ballot but he plans to continue to talk to her about it.
“It’s important. Like, if you complain, like, about the candidates you should at least, you know, go out and vote.”
TO REGISTER TO VOTE
Register in person at the Board of Elections at 1780 Grand Concourse, 5 Fl, Bronx, It’s open 9am to 5pm Monday – Friday.
Register online at https://e-register.vote.nyc/
To see if you are already registered, check here:
https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/
To vote but not in person, request a ballot to mail ballot in here :https://requestballot.vote.nyc/
Out of town on November 5 or physically unable to go to the polls? Get an absentee ballot.
Voters can also vote up to nine days in advance of election day thanks to city’s Early Voting schedule. Fiind your early voting poll site here poll site locator.
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