Decorating voter-themed tote bags. Sending postcards to remind family and friends to vote. Playing election-related games and partaking in photo ops.

These were some of the ways Cal State L.A.’s 2024 Voter Fest creatively engaged and informed dozens of students, staff and neighboring community residents ahead of Tuesday’s election.

The arts-focused festival, part of The Pat Brown Institute’s Fall Civic Series, brought together campus organizations, student clubs, faculty and community groups to promote the power of voting late last month.

The series of election events included a “Burritos & Ballot Measures” event, a media literacy and misinformation panel and an event on housing-related measures on the November ballot. Sascha Brown Rice, who runs the Institute, said it was important to host this series because “it can be overwhelming with all the ballot measures.”

Students like Maria Sifuentes said part of their election preparation was paying close attention to ballot measures that affect them like the minimum wage increase and housing measures such as Prop. 33, a proposal to expand rent control in some areas but limit it in others, since rent control would be moved into the hands of local cities and counties instead of the state.

“I myself rent and the extra support from the state would help,” said Sifuentes. “I live in Boyle Heights and the rents in Boyle Heights fluctuate.”

Another measure several students brought up was Los Angeles County’s Measure A, a proposal to raise $90 million for affordable housing and provide help to people experiencing homelessness.

“Most of my clientele are part of Skid Row,” said Ashley Oralle, president of the university’s political science club. “I worked with them and I’ve been inside their houses.”

She said her experience working with people grappling with affordability or experiencing homelessness has made her realize that making housing affordable and more accessible is critical to living in a just society.

Nick Butterworth, who was running a “Postcards for Democracy” booth at the event, said art activities helped draw in students, including those passing by who weren’t planning to attend. 

“What’s lovely about a postcard is it’s an un-intimidating format. Once they start [drawing] a corner, their love of art comes back,” Butterworth said.

Aaron Longsleeves, a Cal State L.A. alumnus helping with the booth, added: “Voting is such a serious topic, and so is college. So you get this cool corner of bliss. You’re able to paint.” 

Students said attending events like Voter Fest on campus was a no-brainer this semester since they provided a chance to relax or talk with friends while doing some art or grabbing a meal from one of the local pop-up booths and food trucks at the event. And all the while, they could learn about election issues.

 “It helps a lot of students learn more about politics,” said Rosby Castillo.

Although Castillo said he hasn’t had much free time to read up on the races and measures, by attending the event, “I learned how to understand different perspectives about” them.

This story was first published on Boyle Heights Beat’s website.