What Do You Stand For?

This week, Columbia University’s Student Group, Platform for the Homeless, went around the Mailman campus to ask students why they are voting and spread the news about the 1984 court ruling Pitts v Black in which the Coalition for the Homeless sued local boards of elections for prohibiting them from registering to vote without a valid home address.

A right to vote does not necessitate the ability to exercise that right, especially for the homeless. When a person is homeless, it is often difficult to obtain a state-issued ID which entails a long and expensive process. Additionally, many homeless people are burdened by prioritizing their serious health issues.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that over 500,000 people in the United States are without housing. And more and more, these same people feel left out from society with little to no assistance. We hope that people stand up and vote, if not for themselves, then for others who cannot!

Here are nine students from Mailman who are sharing their reasons for voting tomorrow.

Larry Joo, MHA ’17 Just became a citizen and is exercising his right to vote.

Seema Keswani, MPH ’17, is echoing the sentiment of positivity she hopes for America.

These Mailman ladies are voting to preserve their rights.

Patrick Robles, SMS  ’17, is voting because it is his first time.

By Priya Vedula, Health Policy and Management, MPH '17

If you would like to contribute to Mailman Student Voices, please send a three to five-sentence pitch outlining your topic to mailmancomm@columbia.edu.