The Office of Civic Life celebrated National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday by offering opportunities for students to register to vote.
IlliniVote teams were stationed at ISR and PAR. They provided information to undergraduate and graduate students interested in pledging or registering to vote when they turn 18.
On Monday, Danita M. Brown Young, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, announced the University’s effort to complete the ALL IN Big 10 Challenge in a Massmail. It is a goal created by the ALL IN Organization to register every Illinois student, who is a citizen of the United States, to vote.
“There is power in each of you engaging in the democratic process,” she said.
The ALL IN website recorded 963 colleges and universities participating in the campaign in 2022, amounting to 9.8 million potential voters.
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According to the website, campuses participating in the ALL IN campaign in 2020 had 3.7% higher turnout in comparison to campuses who were not involved.
“The llliniVote Student Voter initiative works to reduce apathy, increase engagement and graduate civic-minded students prepared to solve the country, and the world’s, most pressing challenges,” a representative from the Office of Civic Life said.
Also, the office invites students who are not citizens of the U.S. to participate in volunteer opportunities in their communities.
Nicole George, junior in LAS, said volunteering in the community helps her feel a sense of belonging even though she is not a U.S. citizen.
“When I volunteer, it makes me feel like I have a purpose,” she said.
Students who participated in a couch party hosted by the Office of Civic Life on Tuesday night learned how to become an election judge, make a plan to vote early and learn about local leaders on the upcoming ballot.
According to a 2022 poll by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, 40% of young voters aged 18 to 29 planned to vote in the midterm election. Only 23% actually voted, as recorded by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University.
The Office of Civic Life plans to host four more events this semester, including Elect Her for Civic Leadership on Oct. 10 and Service Saturday on Oct. 14.
The next primary election is on Nov. 7 in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Ohio and Virginia.
