A September Student Voice survey from Inside Higher Ed, conducted by Generation Lab, found almost all students plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election, but around one in 10 don’t know how yet.
Among the 92 percent of respondents who plan to vote in the Nov. 5 election, 11 percent said they are not yet sure of their plans to vote or are unaware of how to vote. Some student populations were more likely to say this was the case, including low-income students (13 percent) and those not registered to vote (33 percent).
One of the greatest challenges for college students voting is that, for many, this is their first time voting, says Jill Beckwith, executive director of the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, which makes voter education and support even more important for this population.
Amid new restrictions impeding college students’ voting abilities, 95 percent of students believe colleges and universities can play a helpful role in supporting voting through proactive and educational measures.
Students say: Over one-third (38 percent) of students say they plan to vote in person on Election Day, and this grows to 44 percent of students voting in their college district (which may also be their home district). Those voting in a home district that is different from their college’s plan to vote by absentee ballot (23 percent) or by mail (22 percent).
Out of a list of efforts a college could make to help with voting, the most popular response was canceling classes on Election Day so students can vote more easily (45 percent). Around three in 10 students indicated emails or texts about voting deadlines, dates and voter ID requirements would be helpful, and a quarter of respondents believe a polling place on campus could aid their voting efforts.
Students wanting a day off to vote is not a new sentiment; a University of Virginia student launched a petition in 2008 to establish a universitywide holiday on campus, which has since become a policy. More recently, students at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania won a day off for the election in 2021, and Temple University learners petitioned the administration for the holiday in 2022.
While some colleges cancel classes entirely, others leave it up to faculty members. At Bridgewater State, instructors can choose to cancel class or relax attendance, Beckwith says.
“It didn’t surprise me that [students] would want [classes] canceled, because it gives them a wider berth in their day to figure out how to get there,” Beckwith says. “We help students realize that you don’t necessarily need to have the whole day available … or the multiple ways you can vote early.”
The responses are on trend with students’ priorities for voting in general, seeking convenience over all. Between students who plan to vote at home and in their college district, both groups ranked convenience as a top factor in their decision (44 percent and 60 percent, respectively).
“Convenience is everything to everyone, so if they can just walk to a building on campus to vote, that’s a lot easier,” says Julie Schumacher Cohen, assistant vice president of community engagement and government affairs at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.
Learners attending a four-year institution were more likely to want the day off from classes (48 percent) and a polling place on campus (28 percent) compared to their two-year peers (34 percent and 20 percent, respectively). This could be tied to the full-time enrollment status of many four-year students compared to their two-year peers and the residential nature of four-year programs. At Scranton, first- and second-year students aren’t allowed to have cars, so getting off campus to vote on Election Day can be trickier.
Among efforts to encourage voter registration, students were most in favor of having activities on campus (15 percent) compared to during orientation (11 percent) or in the classroom (7 percent).
Opting out: While most students want their institution to ease the process of voting, a small share of students (5 percent) don’t believe their colleges or universities should encourage voting at all.
Male students (7 percent), students registered as Republicans or Independent (7 percent), adult learners (8 percent) and those not registered to vote (13 percent) were more likely to indicate this belief.
On the contrary, Black students (1 percent), those registered as Democrats (1 percent) and students who live in swing states (2 percent) were least likely to believe higher ed should stay out of student voting conversations.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 outlines how colleges and universities can allocate funds and engage in political discussions, which requires institutional efforts to be nonpartisan and neutral on political issues.
At Scranton, campus leaders see student voting as one piece of the civic engagement puzzle, including community service, activism and constructive dialogue. Voting is one dish available for students on a menu of democratic practices, Cohen says. It’s up to the student to select what they want, but the university can promote all kinds of public participation.
One common approach is encouraging students to use their voice or asking students to get personal and share their motivation for voting, Cohen says. While some point to a political party or identity, many highlight issues that are important to them, which helps make the effort nonpartisan and more individual.
“We really stick to the whole idea of having your voice heard and being an active and engaged citizen,” says Beckwith. “We talk about voting your values. We talk about thinking about issues that are important to you and learning about where various candidates stand on those issues.”
Methodology
The most recent Student Voice survey, conducted by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab, was fielded in late September and had a total of 1,012 responses.
The sample includes over 760 four-year and 230 two-year college students, as well as 329 post-traditional students (attending a two-year institution or 25 or older in age) and 518 low-income learners.
Among racial and ethnic groups, 518 respondents were white, 128 were Black or African American, 214 were Hispanic, 73 were Asian American or Pacific Islander, and 79 percent were another race, including two or more races or international students.
Put into practice: As the election draws closer and state registration deadlines pass, colleges and universities are shifting their focus from registration to voting efforts.
Helping students make a plan to vote can be difficult because “there’s so many choices, you’re trying not to information overload,” Cohen says.
While some initiatives at the University of Scranton have been popular with student respondents than others, there is no one way to promote student voting, Cohen says, so the institution invests in a range of activities. “Our approach has been to do everything, because we don’t know exactly what thing works the best,” Cohen adds.
Some strategies colleges and universities have implemented to educate and encourage civic engagement and informed voting on their campuses include:
- Asynchronous learning. Rather than canceling class, Ohio State University is piloting a universitywide day of asynchronous learning to allow for students to participate in the election. The majority of classes will be expected to shift formats, but some labs or clinical classes can proceed in person or virtually “if necessary for compliance or other compelling educational purposes,” according to a university release.
- Notifying learners. Georgetown University’s associate vice president and registrar in September sent out a notification for students of their voting rights, how to register and other resources about voting. The university also integrated voting registration and absentee ballot request services into the student portal to make it simpler to find. Temple University made visuals and banners in the student portal for its Temple Votes initiative, linking to the program website to encourage and remind students about voting.
- Providing transportation. Survey respondents indicated they’d prefer on-campus polling and drop box locations, but for institutions without these opportunities, providing transportation to the nearest polling location can support those looking to cast their ballot on Election Day. Scranton, which lacks a polling location, plans to bus students on Election Day.
- Engaging peer leaders. Students have the greatest influence over their classmates, so collaborating with student organizations can amplify the institution’s message and create buy-in on campus. BSU and Scranton both hire student employees to lead campus registration efforts and provide peer support.
- Partnering across campus. One important system in student voting is the mail service on campus to deliver students’ mail-in or absentee ballots. BSU collaborated with mail services staff to prioritize ballot delivery and notifying students of their mail. Faculty members can also be key collaborators in promoting deadlines and encouraging student participation. BSU created a faculty tool kit that includes a set of slides with voter deadlines and registration information organized by date that the information is most relevant.
- Using aggregate information. Colleges are often a melting pot of students from around the country, making providing relevant voter information complicated because each jurisdiction has unique requirements and deadlines. “It can be confusing if you’re having to talk to everybody about all the things that could be possible,” Beckwith says. BSU points students to aggregate webpages, like Vote.gov, that provide personalized information to each user.