{"id":82204,"date":"2024-10-10T14:02:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T19:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=82204"},"modified":"2024-10-14T09:54:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T14:54:44","slug":"strategists-coalesce-for-common-sense-and-student-voter-turnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=82204","title":{"rendered":"Strategists coalesce for common sense and student voter turnout"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By RORY MOORE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the Civic Engagement Speaker Series, the Kansas Coalition for Common Sense gave a lecture at Cody Commons on Tuesday led by Loud Life intern Sarah Braun and coalition president Ashley All. The lecture had both speakers present statistical data on voter turnout among college students across Kansas, the results of referendums on abortion and how students can make their voices heard through voting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Braun spoke about how Loud Light has encouraged more students to participate in elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat Loud Light is trying to do is to engage voters that are youth voters,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at people from age 18 to around 30 years old, and we\u2019re trying to make sure that they recognize how much of an impact they can have on elections, not just on the federal level, but also state and local.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"401\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82212\" data-id=\"82212\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-001-1.jpg?resize=790%2C401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-001-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C520 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-001-1.jpg?resize=370%2C188 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-001-1.jpg?resize=150%2C76 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-001-1.jpg?resize=768%2C390 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-001-1.jpg?w=1525 1525w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Sarah Braun presents data about voter turnout and registration among Fort Hays students.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"363\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82211\" data-id=\"82211\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-002.jpg?resize=790%2C363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-002.jpg?resize=1024%2C471 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-002.jpg?resize=370%2C170 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-002.jpg?resize=150%2C69 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-002.jpg?resize=768%2C353 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-002.jpg?resize=1536%2C706 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-002.jpg?w=1723 1723w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Ashley All is the president and founder of the Kansas Coalition for Commons Sense and was a spokesperson for Kansans for Constitutional Freedom during the 2022 elections.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"531\" height=\"789\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82210\" data-id=\"82210\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-003.jpg?resize=531%2C789\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-003.jpg?w=531 531w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-003.jpg?resize=175%2C260 175w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-003.jpg?resize=101%2C150 101w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">All spoke about the odds she faced when working towards a liberal result of the state&#8217;s abortion referendum in a deep red environment.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"387\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82209\" data-id=\"82209\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?resize=790%2C387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?resize=1024%2C502 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?resize=370%2C181 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?resize=150%2C73 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?resize=768%2C376 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?resize=1536%2C752 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?w=1582 1582w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">All shares her experience in politics and they work she has done over the years.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"413\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82208\" data-id=\"82208\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-005.jpg?resize=790%2C413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-005.jpg?resize=1024%2C535 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-005.jpg?resize=370%2C193 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-005.jpg?resize=150%2C78 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-005.jpg?resize=768%2C402 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-005.jpg?w=1379 1379w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 was a key factor in All&#8217;s work to keep abortion rights in Kansas.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"319\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-82207\" data-id=\"82207\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-006.jpg?resize=790%2C319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-006.jpg?resize=1024%2C414 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-006.jpg?resize=370%2C149 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-006.jpg?resize=150%2C61 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-006.jpg?resize=768%2C310 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-006.jpg?resize=1536%2C620 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-006.jpg?w=1882 1882w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">All takes questions after her lecture.\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>She mentioned the upcoming elections next month and pointed out what is on the ballot for voters to decide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cObviously, there are big things on the ballot this year,\u201d Braun said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have the Presidential Election, the House of Representative seats, state legislators and the Board of Education. In Ellis County, we have the county clerk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While she stressed the importance of these elections, Braun included the fact that voting statistics from college campuses, including FHSU, have lagged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe average for college campuses in Kansas is 66% voter turnout rate,\u201d she said. &#8220;Fort Hays is only 62.4%. So, we\u2019re actually one of the lowest voter turnouts among all the students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She attributed this statistic to students\u2019 apathy towards politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPolitics can really be a lot for students nowadays,\u201d Braun said. \u201cThey know what\u2019s going on, but there is an active choice to not participate. A lot of people I\u2019ve talked to say they\u2019re not registered to vote will immediately respond with, \u2018I\u2019m not interested.\u2019 So, we\u2019re trying to make sure that people realize that they have a voice because the second you have [a] majority of people, especially young voters, turned away from politics because of [how] malicious it can be, you\u2019re losing so much voice in this generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All spoke about the work she has done with the Coalition, her involvement with politics and how recent Supreme Court decisions influenced her initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn 2022, I had the honor of being the spokesperson for Kansas for Constitutional Freedom which was the pro-choice side against the campaign for the amendment to ban abortions,\u201d she said. \u201cRoe versus Wade was overturned, and as a result, it was chaos, and the stakes of our ballot campaign got much higher. The decision sent shockwaves around the country, and it really was a wakeup call for a lot of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The court\u2019s decision to return the authority of the issue to the states motivated All to prove the challenges that came from the ruling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNot only were we fighting for the freedom and reproductive rights of all Kansans, but we also had to demonstrate to the rest of the nation that it could be done,\u201d All said. \u201cWe had a big job ahead of us, and a lot of people played an important role in that campaign. It was thanks to an army of volunteers and advocates that that we were able to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ashley All pointed out how the liberal decision on the abortion referendum in a conservative state like Kansas opened the door for others like her to act.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEverybody thought we were going to lose. We worked very hard in a hot summer, there were 50 different groups talking to voters loudly, I did 130 interviews, and we were successful and other states have been successful,\u201d Ashley All said. \u201cWe won 59% of the vote and we protected constitutional rights. Kansas was the first state in the nation 40 days after Roe fell to vote on abortion rights, and we were the first victory for reproductive rights. It changed the way the entire country was talking about abortion rights.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By RORY MOORE Tiger Media Network As part of the Civic Engagement Speaker Series, the Kansas Coalition for Common Sense gave a lecture at Cody&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":82209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3397,3398,11,3570],"tags":[15830,15905,15904,15700,9463,11764,8792],"class_list":["post-82204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-area-news","category-campus-news","category-news","category-politics-news","tag-civic-engagement-speaker-series","tag-kansas-coalition-for-common-sense","tag-loud-light","tag-rory-moore","tag-voter-registration","tag-voter-turnout","tag-voting"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Common-Sense-Lecture-004.jpg?fit=1582%2C775","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=82204"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82343,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82204\/revisions\/82343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/82209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=82204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=82204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=82204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}