Campus Vote Project

Campus Vote Project
Name	Campus Vote Project
Founded	2012
Location	Washington, D.C.
Key people	Mike Burns (Founding Director)
Focus	Voter registration, civic engagement, student voting
Parent organization	Fair Elections Center
Website	campusvoteproject.org

Campus Vote Project. Founded in 2012 as an initiative of the Fair Elections Center, it is a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to removing barriers to student voting and institutionalizing civic engagement on college campuses. The organization works directly with administrators, faculty, and student leaders at hundreds of colleges and universities to simplify democratic participation. Its efforts focus on navigating complex voter ID laws, residency requirements, and advocating for policies like on-campus early voting locations.

History and founding

The organization was established in 2012 by Mike Burns, who recognized systemic obstacles facing student voters during his work with the Fair Elections Center. Its creation was a direct response to a wave of restrictive voting laws passed in states like Wisconsin and Tennessee following the 2010 United States elections, which created specific challenges for the youth vote. Initial pilot programs were launched at a select group of institutions, including University of Michigan and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to test models for institutional support. The project quickly expanded, becoming a cornerstone program of the Fair Elections Center, a national voting rights nonprofit based in Washington, D.C..

Mission and goals

The core mission is to empower students to participate in every election by working to eliminate barriers that disproportionately affect young voters. Primary goals include ensuring every campus has a designated point of contact for voting information, advocating for state and campus policies that facilitate student voting, and increasing overall voter turnout among college students. The organization seeks to make democratic engagement a sustained part of campus culture rather than a cyclical effort tied only to presidential elections. This involves long-term strategy focused on changing administrative policies and state legislation across the United States.

Programs and initiatives

Key programs include the Democracy Fellowship, which trains and supports student leaders to run nonpartisan voter engagement drives on their campuses. The Voter Friendly Campus designation, offered in partnership with NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, recognizes institutions that plan and implement practices to encourage student voting. The organization's staff provide direct technical assistance to colleges, helping them navigate state-specific election codes and set up on-campus polling places. They also publish comprehensive state-specific student voting guides that detail registration deadlines, absentee ballot procedures, and identification requirements for all 50 states.

Impact and recognition

Its work has contributed to significant increases in student voter registration and turnout, as tracked by the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) from Tufts University. The organization played a pivotal role in advocating for and securing on-campus early voting locations at major universities like Ohio State University and University of Florida. It has been cited in major publications including The New York Times and The Chronicle of Higher Education for its effective, on-the-ground model. The Voter Friendly Campus program has designated hundreds of institutions, from University of Texas at Austin to Berea College, signaling a national commitment to student civic engagement.

Organizational structure

The organization operates as a core program of the Fair Elections Center, with its national office located in Washington, D.C.. Leadership includes a national director and a team of state coordinators who work across multiple regions, including the South, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. These coordinators provide direct support to a network of campus administrators, Student Government Association leaders, and faculty champions. The structure is designed to be decentralized, allowing for tailored strategies that address specific legal and political landscapes in states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

Partnerships and affiliations

It maintains critical partnerships with higher education associations such as NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The organization collaborates closely with other nonpartisan civic groups like the Andrew Goodman Foundation, When We All Vote, and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition. It also works with university systems, including the University of California and the California State University system, to implement system-wide voter engagement plans. These affiliations amplify its reach and integrate its resources into broader national efforts to promote civic engagement and protect voting rights.

Category:Voting rights organizations in the United States Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Youth organizations in the United States Category:Organizations established in 2012