MC announced as 2021 ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Award winner
Nov. 19, 2021
Maryville College has earned a silver seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for nonpartisan student voter participation efforts in the 2020 election.
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge honors higher education institutions, educators and students who increased student voter engagement during the most recent presidential election.
The 2020 election cycle saw unprecedented voter registration and turnout among college students, according to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), a research study of the Institute for Democracy in Higher Education (IDHE) at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. IDHE reported that 66 percent of college students voted in the 2020 election, a 14-point increase from 2016. Data provided by IDHE shows Maryville College’s voter participation for the 2020 election was 63.2 percent – a 23.8-point increase from the 2016 election.
MC Votes, a relatively new student-led organization on campus, helped increase voter participation in 2020 by registering students to vote and educating them on current issues and policies, candidates and the voting process. The organization is nonpartisan and does not attempt to persuade students to vote in a specific way or for a certain candidate, said Ryan Indelicato ’17, CCM/Bonner program coordinator and advisor for MC Votes, who added that the organization’s goal for 2020 was to get 60 percent of the Maryville College student body to vote. Beyond the 2020 election, MC Votes continues its work to increase voter participation on campus.
“The students in MC Votes went above and beyond during the 2020 election, finding creative ways to get students registered and engaged in the voting process,” Indelicato said. “I am incredibly proud of the students who worked with MC Votes to exceed our goal, and with the entire campus community for recognizing the importance of voting and making their voices heard.”
More than 840 institutions enrolling close to nine million students participated in the ALL IN Challenge. Winners were recognized during a virtual ALL IN Challenge awards ceremony on Nov. 8.
“The rise in voter participation and engagement for college students in last year’s presidential election amidst a global pandemic was tremendous and will undoubtedly be tied to the tireless efforts of the dedicated students, faculty, administrators, and partner organizations that are part of the ALL IN Challenge network,” said Jen Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “The hard work of these trailblazing honorees will help support many of the country’s future leaders in fulfilling the equitable, engaged vision of democracy to which we aspire.”
About the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) is a national, nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization. ALL IN strives for a more inclusive democracy—one in which all voices are heard. We believe that higher education plays a role in graduating students into voters and in closing electoral participation gaps that persist by race and age. Through an intentionally designed program—which provides structure, support, and recognition—ALL IN strengthens college and university efforts to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation. Ensuring that students are registered to vote and participate in all elections is a key component of our work.
Learn more and see a full list of winning campuses at https://allinchallenge.org/awards-ceremony.