DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — An initiative in the Miami Valley is aiming to get people out and cast their ballot this November.
Saturday was the seventh annual “Rock da Vote Rally” in Dayton. Held exactly one month from Election Day, the event aims to bring candidates down from their officers and give local residents a chance to really get to know who they’re casting their vote for.
Voters and candidates alike met at Sinclair Community College, for the opportunity to meet in a more casual, dressed down setting.
Jamica Garrison, co-founder of Neighborhoods Over Politics, says this allows residents to connect with candidates more.
“You really get to see more of their personality,” said Garrison.
Music filled the venue at Sinclair as those candidates danced their way up on stage before launching into a three-minute message about how they want to change their communities for the better.
Organizers also placed a heavy emphasis on making sure voters know why it’s important for them to express their right at the ballot boxes.
“The right to vote is really how we make our voices heard,” said Tara Campbell, executive president of Dayton United Human Rights.