Love was in the air on Feb. 11 in the Fiesta Room, as the Trinity University Voter Engagement Task Force taught potential voters how to put a ring on a candidate when choosing who to vote for in the upcoming primary elections.

Part of “The Conversation” at Trinity, a program that promotes dialogue around difficult topics, Task Force officers explained intelligent voting and participants engaged in friendly debate about voting strategies and behaviors.

Despite the event’s light-hearted tone and Valentine theme, attendees highlighted the significance of casting their ballots. Jayden Salter, senior political science major and democracy fellow for the Task Force, began by telling participants to vote with their heart — even if the odds aren’t in their favor.

Since local election turnout is very low, college students can have an overwhelmingly large voice, Salter told the crowd. Voting is a great way for students to have a voice in their community and influence those in power.

However, how one stays informed is just as important as casting their vote, Camille Reyes, associate professor of communication, said. She followed Salter by advising the group to carefully choose their media when voting. She instructed the crowd to check for experience, bias, ownership and political tropes when selecting a platform, and encouraged “news polyamory” to gather a holistic picture of the political and media landscapes.

Don’t know which media sources are your type? The Task Force recommended the League of Women Voters, PBS NewsHour and the Wall Street Journal for reliable content.

“If you don’t know every position, there are a lot of great resources. You can look that up, so it’s less intimidating than it seems,” Salter said.

Maggie Kirt, sophomore psychology and Spanish double-major from Oklahoma, attended the event to learn more about voting in Texas. Kirt appreciated the opportunity to hear from diverse perspectives when debating with others and felt more prepared to vote after the session.

“I feel like it will inspire me to question and try to be more informed the next time I vote,” Kirt said. “It’s obviously always really good to show up to things like this and to question your own beliefs and listen to other people’s beliefs.”

The Texas primary elections will take place on March 3, and early voting begins Feb. 17. The Task Force tables every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Coates Student Center, providing further information about voter registration and rides to the polls.

*This article was updated on February 18, 2026