The All In Campus Democracy Challenge, which seeks to develop a nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan, granted CMU the Highly Established Action Plan Seal for the 2022 election. To receive this seal, participants must score at least 31.5 of 36 points according to the Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Guide’s (SADG) Rubric, which assesses leadership, commitment, landscape, goals, strategy, reporting, and evaluation. It also takes into account the institution’s executive summary - an overview of a voting action plan - and the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, a report providing campuses with student registration and voting rates nationwide. Learn more about SADG’s Rubric and the Students Vote Coalition.
For the first time, the Campus Vote Project and NASPA designated Carnegie Mellon University a Voter Friendly Campus for the 2023-2024 year. CMU is among 22 universities in Pennsylvania that received this distinction for its creative ways to engage students in the voting atmosphere. To be considered, universities must turn in their action plan and submit a final report detailing voting data statistics. The NASPA program was established to “help institutions develop engagement action plans that coordinate administrators, faculty, and student organizations in civic and electoral engagement.” Learn more about NASPA and Voter Friendly Campuses.
Voter Resources
SLICE has prepared a document with frequently asked questions related to Election Day! Please use this document as your guide for navigating election day.
Creates state-based student voter guides and answers questions specific to college students such as, “Will registering to vote with my campus address affect my driver’s license or car registration?”
Volunteer opportunities, voter engagement events, and resources on voter’s rights. A non-profit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gaps by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and using strategic partnerships to reach every American.
The League of Women Voters Educational Fund has created a voter guide to learn more about the candidates on your ballot. Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
To learn where your polling place is located, check out the Vote.org Polling Place Locator. Please make sure to check your polling place prior to election day - even if you live on campus, your polling place may be elsewhere.
Every state has different voter ID rules. Vote Riders provides voter ID assistance so that every American can cast a ballot that counts. Visit VoteRiders.org's voter ID guide shares the latest information about what's required for voting in person or by mail.
There are steps you can take to help you vote and minimize your risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visits the CDC’s website for tips to protect yourself while voting in person.
Troubles with Voting?
For issues voting and ballot issues contact your local election office. Learn more about election protection.
News
Read about the work CMU students are doing to help mobilize voter engagement efforts on campus!
CMU Named a Most Engaged Campus for Student Voting
Carnegie Mellon was named a 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The ALL IN program recognizes participating institutions that worked to increase nonpartisan student voter registration, education and turnout, and ensure equitable access to the polls for their campus community.
The Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting is part of ALL IN’s mission to advance voting efforts on college and university campuses across the country. This year’s honorees span 44 states and the District of Columbia and include a diverse group of institutions, including 94 Minority-Serving Institutions, seven HBCUs, 63 Hispanic-Serving Institutions and 68 community colleges. Learn more about the All IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
2020 NLSVE Report
CMU’s NLSVE report from 2020 shows an 8.8 increase in our voting rate from 2016. CMU’s voting rate in 2020 was 70.6%, which earned CMU a Gold Seal from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge. To read the full report, click here.
Voter Engagement
Have an idea for a voter engagement or post-election program? Contact Meggan Lloyd for help with planning, advising or promotion!Interested in Voter Engagement? Want to develop your leadership skills? Sign up to be a Voter Ambassador!
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Election Anxiety: This article takes a deep dive into "election stress disorder," election anxiety, and how meditation can help.
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) has created a Managing Election Stress guide.
Resources for Faculty
Talking about Elections in Your Classroom: If you want students to vote, your best bet may be to facilitate classroom conversations that encourage their electoral participation. Campus Elections Engagement Project offers some reasons why election-related conversations in your classroom matter and provides suggestions on conducting them.
Incorporating Election Engagement into Your Courses: Much of campus election engagement happens outside the classroom, but because all students take courses, faculty members can play a key role. This resource from the Campus Elections Engagement Project offers some classroom approaches to help students participate as informed voters.
Join the Faculty Network for Student Voting Rights: The Network is comprised of a diverse group of faculty at all levels and at institutions throughout the United States. The Network invites any interested faculty, from teaching assistants and adjuncts to tenured professors, to join in founding nonpartisan national and state-level faculty networks to ensure student voting rights on and off-campus.
Teaching in Tumultuous Times: The Eberly Center describes several concrete strategies instructors can consider for how to approach class and support students around the election. For an individual consultation on applying these strategies to your particular course context, email eberly-ctr@andrew.cmu.edu.
Resources for Coaches
All In Campus Democracy Challenge: Provides information and a Voter Engagement Playbook to help coaches engage student-athletes in the voting process.
Athletic Departments & Student Electoral Engagement: A resource from Campus Elections Engagement Project providing a few ways your athletes and teams can influence other students to vote.