With every passing car, Richard West took advantage of the opportunity to spread the word.

His message: One vote counts.

"It's really about getting everyone to register," West said as he hailed motorists making their way along Columbia's Harden Street on Friday morning. "It only takes about 30 seconds every time."

Thirty seconds, a potential new voter -- a worthwhile trade-off, if you ask the Allen University sophomore.

West's efforts and those of other student volunteers were hard to miss Friday as they walked sidewalks and medians around the school in hopes of building the ranks of registered voters.

The students are part of Project MVP, a statewide effort to promote minority voting power, particularly in the coming presidential primary.

"I'm a part of a hard generation, a generation that feels like they don't make a difference," West said. "What they really need to realize is the time is now to make a change."

So committed is West to that belief that he's personally taken his classmates to register. His passion and that of others was evident as they eagerly approached car after car while engaging others walking by.

"I just feel that everyone should vote," Allen University freshman Sheneka Pryor said. "At least that way we can say we tried."

And the efforts paid off as the students collected nearly 20 new voter registration forms within the first hour.

"We're excited about the youthful energy back in the political process," said Jim Felder, executive director of the South Carolina Voter Education Project. "Their presence will definitely have an impact on the coming presidential primaries."

Anthony Young could well be a part of that impact. The 22-year-old, who will enroll at Benedict College in January, became a registered voter for the first time Friday.

"It seemed like the right thing to do," said Young, who was running errands when he ran across some Project MVP members. "So I just decided to sign up."

Sponsored by IMARA Woman magazine, Project MVP is made up of 10 statewide entities, including Allen University and Benedict College, that represent more than 1 million voters.

Planned student-led events include a political forum next month at Claflin College in Orangeburg and a presidential debate in January at Benedict.