Milagro Alvarez Esparza

When immigration enforcement was mentioned, the energy in the panelist room shifts. A 22-year-old senior college student tightened as panelists addressed rumors and rising anxiety within Latino communities. For students like her who are U.S citizens, the upcoming midterm elections carry more than political weight; they carry family implications. The Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, Inc. hosted a community panel on Feb.

With Election Day around the corner, students at N.C. Central University are realizing that casting a ballot isn’t as simple as it sounds. Between classes, jobs, and life, voting is not always a priority. Especially with voter ID regulations, registration deadlines and polling place locations. “A lot of students struggle with voter ID confusion, residency changes or not knowing the importance of voting,” said Brisa Mativez, a clinical research student.