Voting is one way students share their voices. Party at the Polls helps us educate, celebrate and create a long-term connection for our students to consistently participate in the voting process.
Aaron Adams came for a quesadilla, but stayed for the voting vibe.
The Milwaukee Area Technical College student was one of hundreds of MATC students, faculty, staff and community members who attended a Party at the Polls event on Thursday, October 31, at the college’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus.
The event was sponsored by When We All Vote, a national, nonpartisan voting initiative that seeks to turn the voting experience into a community celebration, increase voter turnout and reinforce the importance of voting.
The outdoor celebration, held outside on the mall between the Student Center and Main Building, featured free food from six food trucks parked along State Street, a visit from Milwaukee Bucks mascot Bango, a DJ spinning tunes, and free hats, shirts and buttons.
See more photos from the event
was just about to get lunch when I heard all the activity and had to see what was happening,” said Adams, who is in the college’s General Education Pathway and hopes to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “I haven’t voted yet, but I will. I think this is great. With events like this going on, it’s hard to forget there’s an election.”
MATC was one of five community colleges across the country where When We All Vote, along with SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios, organized early voting parties. Other sponsors of the event were the Milwaukee Bucks, the National Basketball Players Association and the Social Change Fund United.
“Voting is one way students share their voices,” said Erich Zeimantz, MATC’s director of student life. “Party at the Polls helps us educate, celebrate and create a long-term connection for our students to consistently participate in the voting process.”
These parties aim to close the voter turnout gap between students at two-year schools and those attending public four-year universities, said Beth Lynk, executive director of When We All Vote.
During the 2020 presidential election, community college students — representing approximately one-third of all postsecondary students — had a voting rate nearly 10 percentage points lower than students at public four-year universities. Community colleges represent more than 10 million students and are traditionally more diverse than four-year colleges and universities.
“The nation’s community colleges provide an amazing opportunity to advance civic engagement and promote the importance of exercising our privilege to vote,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges.
MATC serves as an early voting site for City of Milwaukee residents. Ballots can be cast at the college’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus, S Building, Room S114, 700 West State Street, through November 2. Hours are Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
On Thursday, there was a line at the college’s voting site during the three-hour party. The gray skies, intermittent rain and blustery winds didn’t stop attendees from enjoying themselves. They feasted on tacos, pizza and barbecue, listened to tunes, and got some free swag.
“At When We All Vote, we believe that voting should be joyful,” Lynk said. “And using our voices at the polls is truly something to celebrate.”
About When We All Vote: When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.
About MATC: As Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 180 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
