Austin Community College District (ACC) believes everyone should make their mark this election and provides access to nonpartisan information to Central Texans. One ACC professor made sure to allow time to make sure her students had access to make it to the polls.

“I want to carve out time for my students to have direct access to voting. Prior to living in Austin, I lived in Seattle, Washington, where voting is relatively easy. There everyone registered to vote automatically receives a mail-in ballot at home. I notice a big difference here in Texas and acknowledge that it can be challenging to make time to vote,” says Melissa Sanderson, ACC dance professor.

Sanderson wanted to make sure her students had the support they needed to make it to the polls this election.

“Many students at ACC juggle multiple responsibilities outside of being a student; they work, have families to take care of, etc. I want to help by carving out the time for them and using class time to participate in early voting together.”

This week, Sanderson took three of her classes. As a group, they walked from the Highland Campus to a nearby early voting location at the City of Austin Permitting & Development Center.

“It was the first election for a few of them, as young voters and even one of my students who recently became a US citizen. They were generally enthusiastic about using class time to vote as a group. A few expressed to me that this helped them be proactive in researching candidates and ensuring that they actually vote before election day passes.”

Early voting runs through Friday, November 4. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. The college also offers resources to help spread the message on elections. For more information, visit austincc.edu/accvotes.