Voting RV makes stop in Cincinnati
EAST WALNUT HILLS, Ohio (WKRC) - With less than two months until Election Day, the clock is ticking to make sure you're registered to vote, and a group of college friends is spending some time in the Queen City making sure everyone's voice is heard.
It all started with a GoFundMe and RV.
“If you want to impact your community, sometimes you have to do what's necessary,” said Justin Thaxton.
Even if it means launching a four-state, 10-city, 43-day voter registration tour in an RV.
Friends Dre Walton, Bennie Williams, Cedric Bennett and Justin Thaxton are making it their personal business to get voters registered.
“It’s just getting on the path, getting on the path and being where people are,” said Thaxton.
The group hosts the 1528 podcast and decided to hit the road and focus on the swing states along the Great Lakes.
“We focused on four really key swing states that were geographically located where it made sense to drive the RV,” said Walton. “With Ohio being such a critical swing state, we know that we had to spend a lot of time here.”
In addition to focusing on inner-city communities, the group is also targeting underserved voters, like the disabled and the formerly incarcerated.
“It’s important that everyone be counted, that everyone has an opportunity to have their voices counted. Honestly, a lot of inner-city communities don’t necessarily have the voter turnout, so we want to make sure that everyone feels that they can be comfortable to vote,” said Thaxton.
The guys say most of the people they’ve interacted with are already registered, which is why they’ve brought absentee ballot applications with them.
“We’re just really happy that people are doing it and people are excited that we are doing these things because, a lot of times, people aren’t going to the communities we’re going, so we’re giving people access that they may not have had otherwise,” said Walton.
It’s access these friends hope encourages others to get involved.
“If you don’t participate, you can’t complain later. This is your chance to be a part of the process and to really effect change in whichever way that is for you,” said Thaxton.
The group will be in Cincinnati for another two days. They also plan on making stops in Akron and Detroit.
