UM-Flint student engages fellow young voters as part of Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force

Jacquindre Brown wants his fellow college students and young voters to know that they should never give up despite challenges.

The senior political science and history major from Mount Morris Township was named to the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force, a statewide effort through the Michigan Secretary of State to engage young voters.

Brown knows about engagement as both a voter and as a student. He is the UM-Flint Student Government director of student organizations and partnerships, Podcast Club president, Turn Up Turnout vice president and the Literature and Discussion organization treasurer. 

The Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force includes students from across the state who liaise between the Michigan Department of State and their campus populations. The nonpartisan group provides advice on the unique experiences and barriers of student voters and helps ensure younger voices are heard in Michigan elections.

"I believed it would be amazing to be more involved statewide, especially with voter engagement," he said. "I felt passionate about creating policy of the future."

As a member of the UM-Flint Student Government, Brown learned about the statewide task force and wanted to be involved. In this role, he is the vice chair of policy. He focuses on messaging, policy recommendations that will go to the Secretary of State, and draft legislation that will go to the state legislature.

A driving force for Brown is how young people were pivotal in the 2020 and 2022 elections. Even though the current political situation may have discouraged many, he encourages young voters to never give up.

"The amount of powers they have in the local process and through ballot initiatives, in which people can determine policies directly, is immense," said Brown. "While it might seem like nothing is changing, the power of the youth vote is something to be reckoned with, and we shouldn't give up on our future."

UM-Flint students can become involved in voter engagement while on campus through Turn Up Turnout, a nonpartisan student organization that hosts voter registration drives and Dinners for Democracy events to educate students on political issues. The organization is also starting voter registration drives at Genesee County high schools.

Michigan residents can check their voter registration, register to vote, find dates of elections, find their polling places and request absentee ballots at Michigan.gov/Vote.