The Omicron Eta Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha has embraced one of the fraternity’s national programs “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People,” (VPHP) with enthusiasm, voter education and registration drives.
However, two years ago, the chapter added a new activity under its VPHP initiative, the Adopt-A-Vote Center program managed by the D.C. Board of Elections.
“This is the second year we have done it,” said the newly elected president of the chapter, KeShawn Harris, a resident of Congress Heights in Ward 8. “The Deltas have been consistently participating in the program, so we decided to try it. In 2022, we staffed the voting precinct at Horace Mann Elementary School in Ward 3.”
Harris, 28, said his chapter plans on participating in the Adopt-A-Vote Center program for the June 4 primary.
How the Adopt-A-Vote Program Works
The Adopt-A-Vote Center program is a community partnership designed to provide an opportunity for local groups, non-profits, faith-based organizations, fraternities, sororities, and other city-based organizations to “adopt” a specific vote center on Election Day.
Participating organizations provide volunteers to serve as election workers on Election Day at a designated vote center to assist voters in a non-partisan manner.
In order for organizations to participate they must be based in the District and provide at least 7-10 individuals to serve as election workers. Volunteers are required to attend and successfully complete a mandatory four-hour election worker training sessions, and must be able to staff a vote center all day on Election Day (from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.) or until dismissed by the site coordinator; and individuals must be at least 16 years old to participate.
There is no fee for an organization to participate and individuals are given a stipend for their participation.
The program is available for the primary and general elections.
The contact person for the Adopt-A-Vote Center program is Jaloney Coulter in the Board of Elections’ Voter Education and Outreach Division.
Several Groups, Community Organizations Adopt Voting Centers
Harris said his chapter’s participation not only meets the requirements of VPHP but also helps the community.
“We know that there is a shortage of people who work the polls and election workers, and we want to fill in that gap,” he said.
Mikael LaRoche serves as the president of the Mu Lambda chapter of Alpha, which is located in the District. LaRoche said his chapter will participate in the program for the general election but is not sure of the site.
“It may be a school in Southeast,” LaRoche, 36, said.
Ward 8 political activist Sheila Bunn said the Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, of which she serves as the social action chair, wanted to participate in the program for the June primaries but had other activities such as a D.C. Council Advocacy Day and candidate forums to deal with.
“The Board of Elections tried to work with us,” Bunn said. “Hopefully we will be able to work the general election.”
Doxie McCoy, a member of the Rho Mu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, told The Informer that her chapter will work at the Mount Horeb Baptist Church in Northeast on June 4.
Divine Nine organizations are not the only groups participating in the program. Eric Weaver, the founder and chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens, said his members have worked the Anacostia High School site on behalf of the program.
“It helps returning citizens become more civically engaged and gives people a little bit of money,” Weaver, 54, said.
Earlier this year, the Howard University chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association engaged with the elections board to get involved with the program—a first.
D.C. Shadow Rep. Oye Owolewa praised the students’ participation in the process.
“The foresight and ability to elevate the youth voice is critical to our nation’s advancement,” Owolewa said. “I am honored and humbled to be able to participate in this inaugural event. I hope we can inspire more events like this.”
