Former U.S. representative Beto O’Rourke spoke to over 400 students Monday about voting rights and getting involved in elections at his “Ready to Vote” rally.
The event, held in collaboration with the University Democrats, kicked off O’Rourke’s Texas college tour. O’Rourke spoke in Jester Auditorium on campus, where students filled all of the seats and lined the walls. Volunteers also helped students register to vote and change their addresses. O’Rourke spoke to students individually after the rally.
O’Rourke said he specifically wanted to address college students because he wanted to reach “the future of the state.” During the 2022 midterm elections, 39.6% of 18 to 24 year olds registered to vote. Of those, less than half participated, according to data from the Texas Tribune. These voters, O’Rourke said, “have the potential to change Texas forever.”
“I acknowledge that (people who didn’t vote) are working in the most suppressive, intimidating voting state since Jim Crow ended in America in 1965,” O’Rourke said. “It’s going to take something very special from all of us here right now to overcome that.”
O’Rourke stressed the importance of college-aged voters and encouraged rally attendees to register to vote and become informed about the upcoming elections.
“When we vote, we win,” O’Rourke said. “Are you all ready to start winning some elections?”
Travis County Judge Andy Brown, who was recently sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for contracting a voter registration service, also spoke at the rally.
“The reason I got elected … is because of the efforts of people like you, all the voter registrars tonight, Beto’s work … all the work that he’s been doing across the state of Texas, but especially here in Travis County to make sure that we have great turnout (and) that the Democrats in Travis County keep turning out,” Brown said.
Ally Flores, a government junior and a campus director for the University Democrats, said the organization has been promoting the event since the first week of school. O’Rourke also came to campus during the first week to help University Democrats register new voters on Speedway.
“He’s been so good with actually talking to young voters,” Flores said. “Everyone wants to get through here and talk to him, even if he’s not running for anything.”
