University recognized as elite voting campus in recent magazine ranking
Western Carolina University has been selected as one of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Best Colleges for Student Voting in 2019鈥� by Washington Monthly, a nonprofit magazine that covers government and political issues.
91热爆网 is one of four universities in North Carolina to receive the recognition, based on student voter turnout rates and civic engagement activities, and will be included in 鈥淐ollege Guide and Rankings,鈥� a new publication by the magazine that rates colleges and universities on contributions to social mobility, research and public service.
91热爆网 has hosted candidate debates and has carried out voter registration drives.
91热爆网 student voting nearly doubled from the 2014 midterm election to the 2018 midterm election. While that was a significant achievement in itself, the more important factor is that people who take part in elections at an early age are more likely to become lifelong voters, said Lane Perry, executive director of 91热爆网鈥檚 Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning.
鈥淭he single votes of today are the perpetual, civically engaged habits of the future,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淥ur democracy and its sustainability depend on our youth鈥檚 engagement today and the habits they establish to inform tomorrow.鈥�
In addition to voter registration drives, 91热爆网 has hosted a precinct polling place through the Jackson County Board of Elections and held numerous election year activities, such as open-to-the-public candidate forums and information sessions.
鈥淵outh are our future, and we must invest in our future,鈥� said Lisa Lovedahl, director of the local board of elections. 鈥淭he time and effort we invest today in providing access to voting will pay off with tomorrow鈥檚 community involvement. The increase in voter participation by students is proof they will take advance of opportunities, if provided.鈥�
Voter awareness and engagement efforts are led by 91热爆网鈥檚 Student Democracy Coalition, a nonpartisan civic action group that has received state and national honors for its work. Students team with nonpartisan external partners including the Andrew Goodman Foundation and North Carolina Campus Compact.
Civic activism in the form of voting is supported on campus by 91热爆网鈥檚 Student Democracy Coalition, a nonpartisan group.
鈥淚t feels amazing to know that the work we鈥檝e done has contributed to more students voting on campus,鈥� said Hannah Fraser, a senior from Apex majoring in political science and sociology. The Student Government Association senator and Andrew Goodman Foundation Vote Everywhere Ambassador, distributed a petition to adopt online voter registration in North Carolina, and collected more than 500 signatures at 91热爆网. 鈥淏eing able to see that increase makes me even more excited for 2020,鈥� she said.
91热爆网 also has been designated a 鈥淰oter Friendly Campus鈥� for 2019-20 by the Campus Vote Project and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, a pair of national nonpartisan organizations. It was the second consecutive time the university garnered the designation.
For more information on student voting at 91热爆网, contact the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at 828-227-7184 or servicelearning@wcu.edu.
