Mayor Sylvester Turner unveils the winner of the Mayor’s Early Vote College Challenge.
In an election year with record turnout, especially among young voters, Mayor Sylvester Turner joined student leaders from the University of Houston (UH), Texas Southern University (TSU), and Rice University this morning to announce the winner of the Mayor’s Early Vote College Challenge.
The Mayor and student leaders were also joined by Rice University President David Leebron and Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, who was visiting different polling locations in Harris County today.
At the beginning of early voting for the 2020 election, Mayor Turner challenged students to mobilize and encourage their classmates, family and friends to participate in early voting on their respective campuses. A total of 21,431 people voted early on the university campuses.
Rice University won the challenge with 13,080 people using that site. Mayor Turner presented the Rice student leaders with a plaque in the shape of Texas to acknowledge their hard work.
He also commended UH and TSU students who worked tirelessly to increase voter turnout. At the University of Houston, 4,639 people voted and 3,712 voters used the polling location at Texas Southern University.
The Mayor presented all students with gift bags filled with Houston-themed memorabilia including face masks, t-shirts and notepads.
“This election is like none other, and this generation has responded like no other. This means if you make voting accessible, if you put polling locations where the voters are, people will respond,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.
“We need good solid leaders to step forward like the student leaders at the University of Houston, Texas Southern, and Rice. They are not only the leaders of the future but the leaders of right now.”