1000 Students Searching for Voting Rights

On February 19, 2008 students of Prairie View A&M in Texas took to the streets to make a statement about voting rights. Students at this HBCU stood up and made a statement "It's 2008. We will vote!" - which was plastered over their banners and t-shirts. Why did these students march 7.3 miles to be able to vote early and register to vote?