CWRU encouraging voter registration and turnout ahead of 2024 elections
With primaries around the corner and a presidential election approaching in November, organizations and individuals across the U.S. are collaborating to boost voter turnout. To help drive efforts on college campuses, Case Western Reserve University President Eric W. Kaler will again serve on the President’s Council of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
He is one of 13 college and university presidents selected to lead this nationwide effort to increase student voter registration and turnout and foster nonpartisan democratic engagement on their campuses.
“Increasing voter participation contributes to a stronger, healthier democracy. Initiatives like the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge are critical to improving voter turnout among young people,” Kaler said. “I’m pleased to represent Case Western Reserve on the President’s Council for a second term. As a university, it’s important that we continue to advocate for more voter engagement across all populations.”
ALL IN has continuously grown the number of college and university presidents committed to full student voter participation on their campuses, with more than 625 committed this year. But while youth voter turnout has risen in recent years, there is still significant work to be done: Only 23% of people under 30 voted in the 2022 midterm elections.
Supporting voters at CWRU
At Case Western Reserve, the Center for Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL) has long served as a campus hub of resources and activities to encourage student voter registration, education and turnout. Such efforts have helped the university become one of 258 institutions nationwide to earn recognition as a 2023-24 Voter-Friendly Campus.
CCEL activities include voter registration events, excursions for in-person early voting, trips for students to drop off absentee ballots at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, and shuttles to the polls on election day.
“At CCEL, we empower our students to make their voices heard through the electoral process by providing the resources they need to vote,” said CCEL Director Betsy Banks. “We are excited that President Kaler’s service on the President’s Council of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge reinforces the university’s commitment to voter engagement at a nationwide level.”
To access Ohio voter registration and absentee ballot request forms and get voting questions answered, students are encouraged to stop by CCEL (first floor of Tinkham Veale University Center, #165). Students also can discover CCEL’s voter resources, including information on how they can help get you to the polls for Ohio’s March 19 midterm elections.
All members of the campus community are encouraged to find out more about the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and view the full list of President’s Council leadership.