HOUSTON — Voting access remains a top priority for communities around Texas.
Historically, political experts said there's an art and science behind mapping out polling locations. Texas Southern University students participated in a march to the polls rally on campus on Wednesday. Students said their voices have value and they are playing their part.
Dozens of students and student-led organizations were chanting and full of energy as they made their way down the Tigerwalk at TSU. You could feel the excitement. Students said they recognize their duty to vote, but also the privilege of having access to do it just a short walk away.
There's a culture on campus you can't create ... it's part of what makes Texas Southern University what it is.
"They can walk down the Tigerwalk to vote -- something that is very crucial," junior broadcast journalism major Jerry LeDoux said.
He's casting a ballot in his first presidential election. Like so many others marching to the polls, he recognizes the value the young people gathered there hold.
"A lot of people don't realize the power that we hold so to have this opportunity on campus to promote all the students in HBCU campus just to go out," Tamyia Nielsen, with the student government association, said.
This a spirit of excitement, the access granted in communities like this has been hard fought. The voting booths stationed here on campus create a level of equity that historically hasn't always existed.
Brandon Rottinghaus, our KHOU 11 political analyst, said the fight over voting rights includes the fight over how you can vote.
"The numbers speak for themselves. If you look at the state, you look at the polling locations that are on college campuses, college kids and staff and faculty will vote at those locations," Rottinghaus said.
And while the work continues to shift that, he said it'll be a challenge every election.
"County officials struggle every cycle to try to get enough polling places and put them places where people live and it's forever going to be art and science," Rottinghaus said.
Students here are excited, as politicians recognize the value of the young vote as they embrace their power at the polls.
"Politicians come to Texas Southern University and the student body engaging with politicians in the election -- it's a very surreal thing for me," Nielsen said.
A variety of organizations have held similar non-partisan walks to the polls. this voting location will remain open through early voting and on Election Day.