University of Memphis junior Nick Furlotte isn't registered tovote and said he doesn't plan to vote in this year's presidentialelection.
Like many college students, Furlotte said he's not votingbecause "it doesn't seem like it makes a difference."
Four years ago, 28 percent of Tennessee voters between ages 18and 24 voted in the Bush-Gore election, according to a Universityof Maryland study.
The study, conducted by the Center for Information and Researchon Civic Learning and Engagement at the University of Maryland,said Tennessee is a state with low college-aged voterparticipation.
Since 1970, Tennessee's college-aged voter turn out has declined20 percent, so the NAACP chapter at The U of M is teaming up withRussell Simmons' Hip Hop Summit Action Network to register morevoters at the National Civil Rights Museum.
The Hip Hop Summit Action Network will launch Project 4.4.4'sAll Souls to the Polls campaign, said Jay Henderson, assistantdirector of community affairs for Clear Channel Communications,which co-hosts the action network in most cities where ClearChannel has affiliates, like Memphis.
"Hip Hop Summit Action Network is trying to get the hip-hopgeneration to vote," said Crystal Neal, press and publicity chairfor The U of M NAACP chapter.
The NAACP chapter on campus has hosted a weekly voterregistration booth since February at the University Center and willcontinue to do so until the semester ends.
"Most of the issues will effect us now or later," Neal said. "Ifwe want to change something later, we could say that we havevoted."
Others in the organization agree that the number of college-agedvoters who vote can make a difference in the election process, saidAlicia Moore, NAACP's political actions chair.
"Students have a voice, too," in elections and in the issuespoliticians raise, Moore said.
Despite the organization's efforts to register more studentvoters, students like Furlotte remain skeptical of the politicalprocess.
"I just don't care to listen to (politicians) because it isalways the same thing they are fighting about," Furlotte said, butadded that he would be more willing to vote if there were a changein the way politics is handled.
The Hip Hop Summit Action Network travels across the UnitedStates raising awareness of the issues concerning young adults toget more young people to vote.
"Why not get out and voice your opinion?" Moore asked. "Votingmakes a difference."
The network will be at the National Civil Rights Museum, 450Mulberry, Sunday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
