Introduction to Campus Vote Project

Dan VicunaCampus Vote Project Coordinator

Fair Elections Legal Network

CampusVoteProject.orgTwitter: @CampusVote

ABOUT US

Campus Vote Project is a campaign to empower students and college administrators with the tools they need to reduce barriers to voting on college campuses.

The Problem

• 48.5% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 voted in 2008.• 67% of Americans 30 years old and above voted in 2008.

The Stereotypes

When it comes to politics, young people are…

• Lazy• Apathetic• Uninterested

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE

• New voters

• Bureaucratic barriers: Two-thirds of college students between 18 and 24 years old who did not vote in 2010 cited lack of information about the process, confusion about residency rules, or scheduling problems.

• Rock the Vote Poll (2010): 83% of young adults stated that their generation has the power to change the country.

• CIRCLE: 87% of students who register to vote cast a ballot

Traditional Barriers Residency

Voter ID: Only an issue in certain states

Student registration/voting discouraged

Off-campus polling places

Insufficient resources to handle student voters

Poll workers unfamiliar with student issues

Myths

Attacks on Students’ Rights• New Hampshire:

– Attempt to redefine domicile to keep students from voting in college communities

– House Speaker : Young people “don’t have life experience, and they just vote their feelings.”

• Maine: Intimidating letters from SOS

• Texas:

– New voter ID law (struck down by Department of Justice)

– Concealed handgun permits OK, but student IDs are not OK

The Importance of Student Voices

• 35 states made cuts in FY 2012

• Examples

– 25% cut at University of Tennessee system

– 35% tuition increase at California community colleges to make up for cuts

• Since 2008, 9.5 million citizens have turned 18.

• Adults under 30: 24% of voting population

• Voting becomes a habit.

• Higher education budgets

HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

“The institution…will make a good faith effort to distribute a mail voter registration form, requested and received from the State, to each student enrolled in a degree or certificate program and physically in attendance at the institution, and to make such forms widely available to students at the institution.”

COLLEGES CAN DO MORE – FELN/AACRAO SURVEY

• 31% of respondents stated that they distributed voter registration forms electronically

• 35% of respondents said their school had a voter registration form link on their website

• 43% stated that they had distributed or made available hard copies

COLLEGES CAN DO MORE – FELN/AACRAO SURVEY

Voter registration information on school website

• Only 2% of universities with links to the voter registration form include an active prompt.

• More information: 14% provided instructions and 11% provided address

• 15% send the link around by email.

WHAT CAMPUS VOTE PROJECT OFFERS

• Toolkit: CampusVoteProject.org/Toolkit

• Technical support: FairElectionsNetwork.com/Resources

• Communications collaborationo Press releases and eventso Blogo Twitter: @CampusVoteo Facebook: Facebook.com/CampusVoteProject

o CVP Coordinator

SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS – CVP TOOLKIT

• Election Awareness Campaigns

• Voter Registration Blitz

• Integrating Voter Information into the School Website

• Establishing a Student Poll Worker Program

• Bringing a Polling Place to Campus

• Get ID! Tips for Making Sure Everyone has Voter ID

• Getting Students to Off-Campus Polling Places

• Creating a Lasting Campus Vote Structure

CVP TOOLKIT – ELECTION AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

• Campus-wide emails

• Candidate forums and debates

• Non-partisan election rallies

• Classroom announcements

• Campus media

CVP TOOLKIT – ELECTION AWARENESS EXAMPLES

Central Michigan UniversityTurbotron commercial

Denison University Door hangersArt project

Eastern Michigan University Orange arm bandsClassroom visits

CVP TOOLKIT – VOTER REGISTRATION BLITZ

CVP TOOLKIT – INTEGRATING VOTER INFO INTO SCHOOL WEBSITE

Example: University of Wisconsin

CVP TOOLKIT – INTEGRATING VOTER INFO INTO SCHOOL WEBSITE

Pages that students frequently visit:

• Class registration

• Blackboard

• Textbook orders

CVP TOOLKIT – ESTABLISHING A STUDENT POLL WORKER PROGRAM

Why?:•Educational opportunity

•Shortage of poll workers means long lines.

• Average age of a poll worker is 72.

• Comfort with new voting technology and familiarity with issues that students face.

o Dorm locations and proof of residencyo Use of student IDs for voting

CVP TOOLKIT – ESTABLISHING A STUDENT POLL WORKER PROGRAM

Best Practices:• Professors, college staff are critical to recruitment. • Exceeded peer-to-peer recruiting goals.

• Fellows were drawn to program by belief in civic engagement and duty and that it would be a positive learning experience. Less interest in pay.

• Focus on social aspect of experience.

• Aim for in-person meetings with election officials. o More positive experience than for those who did online training.

CVP TOOLKIT – BRINGING A POLLING PLACE TO CAMPUS

• Small increase in distance makes a big difference in turnout

• Check state requirements

• Locations that are easy to get to on foot

• Available all day

• Early voting and Election Day

CVP TOOLKIT – GETTING STUDENTS TO THE POLLS

• Identify the Location of Student-Heavy Polling Places

• Transportation to the polls

• : Campus shuttles took students to off-campus polling locations. • Other options: public transportation, carpools

CVP TOOLKIT– GET ID! MAKING SURE STUDENTS HAVE THE ID THEY

NEED TO VOTE

CVP TOOLKIT – CREATING CHANGE THAT LASTS!

• Institutionalize relationships

• Build strong coalitions – Toolkit: “Build a Coalition”

• Develop new leaders

• Avoid summer drop-off

HOW TO’S AND TEMPLATES

• Advice and email templates for meeting with campus administrators and election officials

• Media Guide: How to Launch your Campaign

• How to Build a Coalition on Campus

Dan Vicuna, CVP Coordinator(202) 331-0114

dvicuna@campusvoteproject.orgwww.CampusVoteProject.org

Twitter: @CampusVote