Voter Friendly Campus

Voter Friendly Campus. The Voter Friendly Campus initiative is a national designation program that supports American colleges and universities in developing comprehensive plans to engage their student bodies in the democratic process. Launched through a partnership between the Fair Elections Center's Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the program provides a structured framework for institutions to bolster nonpartisan voter registration, education, and turnout efforts. Campuses that successfully complete the program's requirements earn the designation for a two-year cycle, signaling a commitment to integrating civic learning and democratic participation into campus culture.

Program overview

The core mission of the program is to assist campuses in overcoming persistent barriers to student voting, such as confusion over residency rules, absentee ballot procedures, and voter identification laws. Participating institutions are tasked with forming a diverse campus coalition, often involving staff from departments like Student Affairs, faculty from Political Science or Civic Engagement programs, and student leaders from groups like the Student Government Association. These coalitions then develop and implement a detailed action plan aligned with the program's goals, which is reviewed by a panel of experts from the Campus Vote Project and NASPA. The initiative emphasizes sustainable, institutionalized practices rather than episodic efforts, encouraging the creation of permanent voter engagement infrastructure.

Designation process

To earn the designation, campuses must complete a rigorous application process during a designated cycle, typically following a federal election year like the 2020 United States presidential election. The process begins with a formal institutional commitment from senior leadership, such as a University president or Provost. Campuses then conduct a self-assessment of their current civic health and subsequently draft a multi-faceted plan that addresses goals like training TurboVote ambassadors, hosting Candidate forums, and providing transportation to polling locations. After implementing their plan through an election period, institutions submit a final report detailing their outcomes, challenges, and metrics related to student voter registration and turnout, which is evaluated against national benchmarks.

Participating institutions

The program has seen broad participation from a wide array of postsecondary institutions across the United States. This includes large public research universities like the University of Michigan and University of Texas at Austin, private liberal arts colleges such as Macalester College and Spelman College, and community colleges including Miami Dade College and Northern Virginia Community College. Participation from institutions within the University of California system and the Ivy League, like Dartmouth College, is also common. The geographic diversity spans from University of Washington in the Pacific Northwest to University of Florida in the Southeastern United States, demonstrating a nationwide commitment to student civic engagement.

Impact and outcomes

Designated campuses often report significant increases in student voter registration rates and turnout, contributing to broader national trends of rising youth electoral participation as tracked by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). The structured framework has led to the institutionalization of practices like integrating voter registration into New Student Orientation and establishing permanent, nonpartisan civic engagement offices. These efforts have been recognized by other civic initiatives, including ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Furthermore, the program fosters valuable partnerships between campuses and local County Clerks or Secretary of State offices to streamline election administration for students.

History and development

The initiative was formally launched in 2016 by the Fair Elections Center, a national nonpartisan voting rights organization, and NASPA, a leading association for the student affairs profession. Its creation was a direct response to studies, including those from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, highlighting unique obstacles faced by student voters. The program's structure was influenced by earlier campus engagement models and the legal advocacy work of the Fair Elections Center on issues like the Motor Voter Act. Over successive election cycles, including the 2018 United States elections and the 2022 United States elections, the program has expanded its reach, refined its assessment criteria, and adapted to challenges such as voting during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Category:Voter education in the United States Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Nonpartisan organizations in the United States