Lawrence University’s efforts to help students register to vote for the 2024 fall election has been recognized by a nonpartisan voter advocacy group. Lawrence is one of 471 colleges and universities recognized Nov. 19 as a "Most Engaged Campus" by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, an initiative of the nonpartisan Civic Nation.
Led by Dakota McKee, Aaron Wojciechowski, Michelle Buchinger, and Hannah Osborne in the Office of Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership (SEAL), Lawrence engaged with students about the election throughout Fall Term, with a focus on helping students get registered and familiar with the voting process in Appleton.
“Our efforts began at the start of the academic year, working to distribute information to students on important deadlines and voter information, which we did via email, flyer, and social media,” said McKee, director of SEAL. “We also had staff available to walk students through the process from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday during the term and stayed until 8 p.m. on Election Day to answer any questions.”
The efforts also included:
- Working closely with non-partisan organizations such as Campus Vote Project, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Wisconsin Votes, and Do Something, which provided information on the election, candidates, and how to register to vote;
- A marketing campaign, “Vikings Vote,” that shared information about how to register and how and where to vote;
- Providing transportation to and from polling places on Election Day;
- Hosting and supporting voter registration events on campus, including a Mocktails Voter Registration with students in the Conservatory, a National Voter Registration Day tabling to get students registered, “Doughnut Forget to Vote” stations across campus on Election Day, and various voter registration tabling activities throughout October.
Research shows that colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates, according to Civic Nation. ALL IN organizers said they saw more colleges than ever before step up efforts in 2024 to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
“These 'Most Engaged Campuses' are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages 10.8 million students from more than 1,075 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle some of the nation’s most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to seven national initiatives and campaigns: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, Save On Clean Energy, SAVE On Student Debt, We The Action, and When We All Vote.