WASHINGTON -The Howard University Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP)/Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. Institute for Leadership, Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment & Social Justice at Clark Atlanta University have partnered this year to host the NCBCP Unity '22 Ronald W. Walters National Election Day Command Center at Howard University and Clark Atlanta University. 

"For the past 10 years, the Walters Center has hosted the command center on election day, providing an opportunity for Howard University students to interact with civil rights, labor, social and religious organizations to monitor electoral activity in key states," said Elsie L. Scott, PhD, director of the Ronald Walters Center. "Volunteers work collaboratively to monitor, track and report on Black voting patterns during presidential and mid-term election cycles. Research information on black candidates and issues important to Black voters is collected and voter suppression issues are monitored."

This year over 30 Howard University students from different majors and classifications have signed up to volunteer at the command center. With more Black candidates running for state executive and U.S. Senate seats, students will spend the day learning more about the candidates, their backgrounds and platforms. They will look for potential historical victories for Black candidates and try to project on the future of the country as a democracy.

Special attention will be focused on AL, FL, GA, MD, MI, MS, NC, OH, PA, TX, and VA where NCBCP has affiliates. The students will be privy to information from the state representatives of the affiliates and national partners regarding black voter turnout data, information, trends, and the experiences of Black voters.

The students at the Walters Center will also speak with Howard University journalism students who will be covering local, state and national races, as well as issues important to the Black community through their 2022 Howard University Election Project.