UT Martin Democrats

College students at UT Martin united behind the message of Democratic candidates on the eve of the election and encouraged young voters to make it to the polls on Nov. 2.

Rep. John Tanner, state Sen. Roy Herron and state Rep. Mark Maddox spoke during the College Democrats ‘Rally the Vote,’ that took place at 5 p.m. Monday night in the University Center Game Room.

Battery Horse, a local band opened the stage prior to Rep. Maddox taking the stage. Maddox, who is unopposed in his race for the state House seat, encouraged students that a vote for Sen. Herron was a vote for a strong man who would do the right things for all Tennesseans.

Herron says that when asked why he’s at UT Martin the day before the election that he tells everyone, “Because this is home.” Herron told the crowd that as senator, he will continue to work for a balanced budget in Tennessee. He also stressed the needs of addressing higher education and the use of the drug methamphetamine (meth) in rural areas that Herron says is destroying families.

Rep. Tanner’s message was one of the needs of Washington being fiscally conservative. “No administration since 1776 has been this fiscally irresponsible,” Tanner said.

College Democrats President Wil Hammond says the organization’s purpose tonight was to unite the base of youth voters and make sure that they make it to the polls.

“Students haven’t voted in mass numbers in the past. We feel this election is vitally important and we want as many young voters to get to the polls as possible,” Hammond said.

“Everyone knows that the presidential election is going to be close. But we must remember that college students have other important decisions to make in the state elections as well. When all votes are counted, we are confident that West Tennessee will deliver many victories to Democratic candidates,” Hammond added.