(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (Woodbury) joined community organizers and Hot 97 Music Director and multimedia personality T.T. Torrez on Saturday, Oct. 24 to launch a non-partisan youth early voting initiative aimed at encouraging young Long Islanders to take an active role in the democratic process.
“Like for the generations that came before us, voting must become a lifelong, habitual passion, in which each of us make casting our ballots in every election - from the school board to the Presidency and every office in between - a non-negotiable tradition,” Legislator Lafazan said outside the Nassau County Board of Elections before voting early on Saturday. “We have to vote to secure the bright future that we deserve. We have to vote like our hopes and dreams depend on it - because they do. And whether you vote early, on Election Day, or by absentee ballot: Raise your voice, join us, and let's make ourselves heard.”
Legislator Lafazan and Torrez were joined by a diverse coalition of millennial and Gen-Z powered advocacy organizations, including leaders of: Minority Millennials, Next Generation Long Island, the SUNY Student Assembly, Young Long Island for Justice and the Nassau County Youth Council.
"This is a truly pivotal time for our democracy and our generation," Kiana Abbady, steering committee co-chair for Young Long Island for Justice, said. "Millennial and Gen Z voters are the largest, most educated and most diverse voting bloc this nation has ever seen. It is through our voice, and the power of our vote as a collective, that we can make real change in this county and this nation.”
“By population size, the Millennial and Gen Z generations are now the New Majority within our nation. As of October 21, more than 3 million young people (ages 18-29) across the country have already voted early or submitted an absentee ballot in the 2020 elections,” Daniel Lloyd, Founder and President of Minority Millennials, said. “The past six months of social and racial unrest have empowered the young people on Long Island, specifically Black & Brown millennials, to take action. I am confident the movement will shift directly from marching in the streets to fiercely running to the polls to vote early this Saturday!”
“We must reframe the way we think about voting this year,” Jennifer Leveque, WHAT, said. “Election day (or November 3rd) is not your first chance to vote; it is your last chance to vote,” Jennifer Leveque, Founder and President of Next Generation Long Island, said. “November 3rd is the last resort - the back-up plan. This is an election season! By now, we have had the opportunity to vote by mail and today is the first day to vote early. Next Generation Long Island is excited to see informed young people committed to the community and fulfilling their civic duty as active citizens. The Long Island movement is happening, and we are the change we want to see!”
“The saying may be ‘The children are our future,’ but I know that Generation Z and millennials are our present and future! Now it is time to use that power and vote,” Torrez said. “Remember: EVERY VOTE COUNTS and it is important that you VOTE and that you vote for more than just the President. Generation Z and millennials: Exercise your power. Show the world who really has power!”
PHOTO CAPTION (TOP PHOTO) - Legislator Lafazan, center, pictured outside the Nassau County Board of Elections on Saturday, Oct. 24 with, from left - Kiana Abbady, steering committee member of Young Long Island for Justice; Daniel J. Lloyd, founder and president of Minority Millennials; Bryce Mack, Treasurer, SUNY Student Assembly; T. T. Torrez, Hot 97 Music Director and multimedia personality; Jennifer Leveque, Founder & President of Next Generation Long Island; Georgetown freshman Nicolette Carrion of the Nassau County Office of Youth Services, and Hicksville High School sophomore Pratiksha Malayil and Plainview High School Junior Aidan Davis, of the Nassau County Youth Council.
PHOTO CAPTION (BOTTOM PHOTO) - Legislator Lafazan looks on as Hot 97 Music Director and multimedia personality T.T. Torrez speaks on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.
ADDITONAL PHOTO (ATTACHED SEPARATELY) - Legislator Lafazan speaks outside the Nassau County Board of Elections on Saturday, Oct. 24 to kick off a young voter engagement initiative on the first day of early voting.
PHOTO CREDIT - Office of Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan