For the first time in Paul Quinn College’s 144-year history, the Dallas school will be a polling location for early voters.
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For the first time in Paul Quinn College's 144-year history, the school will be a polling location for early voters.
The small liberal arts school located in South Dallas is a closed-campus, meaning the gates are normally locked tight.
But for the next two weeks of early voting, the gates will remain open to everyone in the community.
It is one of 50 early voting locations spread throughout Dallas County, a number that has doubled since the last presidential election, according to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
"The shorter the lines are and the easier it is to vote, the better it is for democracy," Jenkins said.
Early voting locations are also set up at all Dallas community colleges, Southern Methodist University and the University of Dallas.
There are hundreds of early voting locations across North Texas -- see them all here.
"Means more young people can get involved in democracy and that’s all good for the process," Jenkins added.
Paul Quinn sophomore Sherman Redmond spent the last three months registering students and community members to vote, hoping the proximity of a polling place will now draw out more people in an area with historically low voter turnout.
"I think the biggest thing is the attitude and culture of voting could possibly change in this area, which would be great for the community," Redmond said.
The voting machines are locked up tight inside Zale Library until election workers set them up Monday morning.
"We're making sure no one is touching any of this. We don't want to be part of any controversy that may come up," said Mercedes Fulbright, special assistant to the president of Paul Quinn.
And Paul Quinn isn't the only one that's new at this -- freshman Paloma Piett is a first-time voter.
"In this election of all elections," Piett said. "It's really nerve-wracking to see who’s actually going to win."
Early voting in Dallas County begins at 7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24.
For a list of times and locations across North Texas, click here.
