S.C. State, Claflin University students join together for ‘March to the Polls’

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Students from South Carolina State University and Claflin University united Tuesday morning to make their voices heard, marching through the streets of Orangeburg to encourage voter turnout on Election Day.

The collaborative “March to the Polls” brought together scholars from both historically Black institutions, rallying them to cast their ballots in South Carolina’s statewide elections.

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The march culminated at S.C. State’s voting precinct inside the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. The arena carries profound historical significance, bearing the names of Henry Smith, Samuel Hammond Jr., and Delano Middleton—three young men killed by law enforcement during the Orangeburg Massacre in February 1968 while protesting segregation.

“It’s just so meaningful to have students from both universities coming together so our voices can be heard,” one student participant said Tuesday morning.

Organizers said the joint march highlights the ongoing commitment of student leaders to civic engagement, honors the sacrifices made before them, and ensures the Orangeburg collegiate community remains active at the ballot box.