Gary Organizers Combine Voter Registration, Food Assistance to Boost Turnout for 2024 Election
Voting advocates across Gary are ramping up efforts ahead of the 2024 general election, finding creative ways to engage voters of all ages. With turnout steadily declining over recent voting cycles, organizers are pulling out all the stops to reverse the trend and mobilize residents to the polls.
On the Indiana University Northwest campus, Black Student Union representative Anthony Hudson helped organize a voter registration drive on National Voter Registration Day earlier this week.
"I feel like the turnout was good," Hudson told Capital B Gary. "We had students stop by, swing by just to sit down and listen. The people that came and spoke made some really amazing points."
Common Council Vice President Lori Latham was among those in attendance. Hudson was thrilled to have her insight into ways to involve younger voters.
"She gave some excellent ideas regarding having food out and having prizes and stuff out for students to swing by and be more entertained," he said.
Food was a central theme of Council President Tai Adkins' 4th District Fall Food Giveaway and Voter Registration Drive.
On a sunny Friday morning, Adkins was sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Register. Show Up. Vote" in pink and green print, subtly representing her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. Adkins could be seen lifting boxes and assisting residents.
While residents filled their bags with everything from applesauce to pasta, they were also given information flyers complete with all the dates for registration and early voting, and polling locations.
"We're here to fill the gaps, whether that's helping families with food needs or providing them with voting information and opportunities to register," Adkins explained.
In this year's primary, precincts in Adkins' 4th District were among some of the few in the city to reach more than a 20% turnout, a statistic she is proud of but would love to increase.
"A lot of our seniors are excited to vote, so we want to meet them where they are and give them all the tools they need, so we can show that Gary is a voting city," Adkins said.
Adkins hosted the event in partnership with LaJuan Clemons, chief executive officer of the Family Life Community Youth Center. Clemons, who has been hosting such drives for eight years, has discovered their value as an entry point into the community.
"What I've learned is that food can be used as a tool," Clemons told Capital B Gary as he maneuvered stacks of empty food boxes in the morning heat.
"We're developing a base, and once we develop a base, we introduce information."
Despite these efforts, Gary's voter turnout has been on a downward trajectory since the 2008 general election, which saw a record 70% turnout. Since then, each cycle has seen a decline, including this year's primary, which had a turnout of only 14%. Every neighborhood precinct across the city reported a decrease in voter turnout, with neighborhoods like Tolleston, Glen Park and Brunswick seeing double-digit drops.
With Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket, voting advocates expect an increase in turnout from voters.
The deadline to register to vote in Indiana is Monday, Oct. 7. Early voting begins the next day Tuesday, Oct. 8 and continues until Monday, Nov. 5.
Gary residents can begin early voting at the Gary Public Library, the city's only early voting location, during the following hours:
