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About Us

Introduction to Campus Vote Project Dan Vicuna Campus Vote Project Coordinator Fair Elections Legal Network CampusVoteProject.org Twitter: @CampusVote. About Us.

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About Us

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  1. Introduction to Campus Vote ProjectDan VicunaCampus Vote Project CoordinatorFair Elections Legal NetworkCampusVoteProject.orgTwitter: @CampusVote

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. The Importance of Student Voices • Since 2008, 9.5 million citizens have turned 18. • Adults under 30: 24% of voting population • Voting becomes a habit. • Higher education budgets • 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

  7. 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 studentsat the institution.”

  8. 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

  9. 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.

  10. What Campus Vote Project Offers • Toolkit: CampusVoteProject.org/Toolkit • Technical support: FairElectionsNetwork.com/Resources • Communications collaboration • Press releases and events • Blog • Twitter: @CampusVote • Facebook: Facebook.com/CampusVoteProject • CVP Coordinator

  11. 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

  12. CVP Toolkit – Election Awareness Campaigns • Campus-wide emails • Candidate forums and debates • Non-partisan election rallies • Classroom announcements • Campus media

  13. CVP Toolkit – Election awareness examples • Central Michigan University • Turbotron commercial • Denison University • Door hangers • Art project • Eastern Michigan University • Orange arm bands • Classroom visits

  14. CVP Toolkit – Voter Registration Blitz • Short and intense voter registration period • Freshman move-in and orientation • Hand out forms: door-to-door in dorms, class, dining halls • Display paper cards in frequently visited areas • Student voting coalition • National Voter Registration Day: September 25 • University of Oregon: Students obtained access to residence halls at pre-agreed times to conduct voter registration activities.

  15. CVP Toolkit – Integrating Voter Info Into School Website Example: University of Wisconsin

  16. CVP Toolkit – Integrating Voter Info Into School Website • Pages that students frequently visit: • Class registration • Blackboard • Textbook orders

  17. 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. • Dorm locations and proof of residency • Use of student IDs for voting

  18. 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. • More positive experience than for those who did online training.

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. CVP Toolkit– Get ID! Making Sure Students Have the ID They Need to Vote • What is required in your state? • Encourage your school to issue ID documents. • Oberlin College:Zero balance utility bills as voter ID

  22. CVP Toolkit – Creating Change That Lasts! • Institutionalize relationships • Build strong coalitions – Toolkit: “Build a Coalition” • Develop new leaders • Avoid summer drop-off

  23. 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

  24. Dan Vicuna, CVP Coordinator (202) 331-0114 dvicuna@campusvoteproject.org www.CampusVoteProject.org Twitter: @CampusVote

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