These colleges have the most influential student voters in the country

"Colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates," said the executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.

With the midterm elections wrapped up, higher education institutions must be recognized for encouraging their students to take advantage of their constitutional right to vote.

This year’s elections saw the second-highest youth turnout rate for a midterm election in the past 30 years, as noted by The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. Their participation helped to influence the outcomes of several prominent races, including those in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin.

ALL IN seeks to encourage participation in local, state and federal elections while challenging college campuses to set an expectation for its students that says voting must become the social norm. Nearly 1,000 higher education institutions partner with the organization.

394 colleges were recognized for their participation in the Campus Democracy Challenge for their efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter registration, education and turnout. This year’s honorees come from 44 states and the District of Columbia including a diverse mix of higher education institutions, including 94 minority-serving institutions, seven HBCUs, 63 Hispanic-serving colleges, and 68 community colleges.

“The research is clear: colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “Despite ongoing obstacles, these campuses have remained dedicated in their commitment to ensuring that their students are informed and confident voters.”

Institutions that were recognized met the following four requirements: participate in the challenge, share their 2020 National Study of Learning Voting and Engagement report with campus voting data, develop and submit a 2022 democratic engagement plan, and have a current signatory to the organization’s Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation.

This year set the record for the most campus action plans submitted.

View the complete list of colleges recognized here.


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Micah Ward
Micah Wardhttps://universitybusiness.com
Micah Ward is a University Business staff writer. He recently earned his master’s degree in Journalism at the University of Alabama. He spent his time during graduate school working on his master’s thesis. He’s also a self-taught guitarist who loves playing folk-style music.

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