ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge recognized Ohio University for its nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts and its student voter engagement in the 2022 midterm elections.
OU received the Campus Democracy Challenge Silver Seal Award, reflecting the university’s commitment to making nonpartisan democratic engagement a defining feature of campus life, according to a press release obtained by The Post.
Silver Seal Awards were awarded to campuses with 30%-39% or higher voter participation in the 2022 midterm elections.
“Voting is not just a right; it’s a responsibility that shapes our future,” said Mary Nally, Center for Community Engagement director. “We are proud to be given this designation and support Ohio students registering to vote. It is a testament to the power of engagement and civic responsibility and reflects a commitment to shaping the future and ensuring that the voices of young people are heard in our democracy.”
Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, said the awards were created to recognize and honor the nonpartisan democratic engagement and campus voter rates and turnouts achieved by ALL IN campuses.
“ALL IN is proud to celebrate and honor top-performing campuses, like Ohio University, which demonstrate that nonpartisan student voter engagement is possible and effective,” Domagal-Goldman said.
The National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement found in a 2022 study colleges and universities had the second-highest student voter turnout in a midterm election. OU was recognized among over 500 other campuses using data from NSLVE.
OU’s Center for Community Engagement was awarded two mini-grants from Ask Every Student and Campus Vote Project to reduce voting barriers, reward student and faculty leadership, and promote a broad approach to campus voter registration and access to information through academic, institutional and student integration.
The CCE integrates nonpartisan democratic engagement into academic and student life through Faculty Civic Champions and Student Civic Champions.
Registered faculty will receive curriculum resources such as an interactive online tutorial, lesson plans and communication materials for classroom use. Registered students will receive resources such as flyers and residence hall bulletin boards. Students and faculty can register using Give Pulse.
OU has hosted several voter registration events on campus ahead of the 2024 presidential election to continue its efforts for student voter engagement.
Adriane Mohlenkamp, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Athens County, said the organization hosted several voter registration events.
“We’re always just out talking to people about voting and (voting) information,” Mohlenkamp said.
The League of Women Voters of Ohio hosted an on-campus event Oct. 3 and provided students with voter registration resources.
Mohlenkamp said this fall at OU, LWVO focused on partnering with different groups working to spread voting information.
"We worked with a lot of groups so that we could bring them the background and information and the knowledge about how to do it and be there to support their work of engaging with fellow students and events,” Mohlenkamp said.
OU offers several other opportunities for students to get involved in civic engagement, such as taking the Bobcat Voter Pledge to receive updates and information regarding voting and ways to be an engaged citizen.
Students can also sign up to be volunteer campus poll monitors and nonpartisan volunteers who assist voters at campus polling locations with Election Protection.
