Colleges and universities can now earn recognition for the highest voter registration and turnout rates statewide in the Maryland, Washington, DC, and Delaware State Voting Challenges, an ongoing nonpartisan initiative coordinated by Transform Mid-Atlantic and Civic Nation.
All 2-year and 4-year higher education institutions throughout the states of Maryland and Delaware and the District of Columbia are invited to participate in their respective State Voting Challenges. Participating colleges and universities will be eligible for recognition and awards based on voter turnout and registration rates on their campuses for the November 2022 election.
“Increasing voter participation and civic engagement within their student bodies and throughout the greater community is one of the most basic yet vital steps colleges and universities in our region can take to advance their public purposes,” said TMA Executive Director Madeline Yates. “Higher education plays an important role in strengthening our nation’s democracy, and many of TMA’s partner institutions have already demonstrated a strong and inspiring commitment to this work.”
College and university officials can learn more about the challenge and sign up at by visiting the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge website. There is no cost to participate. Institutions that opt into the challenge will be provided guidance and tools to create an action plan for increasing student engagement on their campus. By signing up for the challenge, all accredited, degree-granting higher education institutions across the state can improve, measure, and celebrate efforts to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement, and informed voter participation.
Biennial statewide awards for 2-year and 4-year institutions will be issued based on campuses’ National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) reports generated by the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University in Massachusetts for the November 2022 elections. Awards will be issued for the highest voter turnout, most improved voter turnout, and highest rate of voter registration at the 2023 Awards Ceremony. Click here to read about 2020 voting challenge award recipients in Maryland and Washington, D.C. which were recognized at the 2021 Awards Ceremony.
Transform Mid-Atlantic is partnering with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN), which is a national nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, to facilitate the Maryland, DC, and Delaware State Voting Challenges. Institutions who sign up for their respective state voting challenges will also be automatic participants in the nationwide ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
“Preparing students for their public lives as citizens, members of communities, and professionals in society has historically been a responsibility of higher education,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “We are thrilled to partner with Transform Mid-Atlantic to encourage higher education institutions in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Delaware to make a plan to increase student voter engagement.”
ABOUT Transform Mid-Atlantic:
Transform Mid-Atlantic, formerly Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic, is the largest higher education association in the Mid-Atlantic region, with 37 members comprising public, private, 2-and 4-year colleges and universities. The mission of TMA is to mobilize the collective commitment and capacity of higher education and community partners in the region to develop global citizens and co-create just, equitable, and sustainable institutions and communities. For more information visit www.transformmidatlantic.org.
ABOUT ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge:
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) is a national nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives to change civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs on college campuses, making voter participation a defining feature of campus life.
ALL IN, in collaboration with over 860 higher education institutions, seeks to make participation in local, state, and federal elections a social norm; substantially increase the number of college students who are democratically engaged on an ongoing basis, during and between elections, and not just at the polls, and; make educating for democratic engagement on college campuses an accepted and expected part of the culture and curriculum so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and values needed to be an informed and active citizen.
ABOUT Civic Nation:
Civic Nation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit home for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. Civic Nation empowers and educates individuals, companies, institutions and organizations to drive culture, systems, and policy change, working towards a more inclusive and equitable America. Seven initiatives are a part of the Civic Nation family: When We All Vote, United State of Women, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, End Rape On Campus, It’s On Us, Made to Save and We The Action. Learn more here.
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