The University of Florida is one of 394 college students recognized for its efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement in the 2022 election.
(Washington, DC) The University of Florida has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting.
The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting designation recognizes colleges and universities for making intentional efforts to increase student voter participation.
The voter outreach effort at UF is coordinated through the Bob Graham Center for Public Service under the leadership of Dr. Teresa Cornacchione, the civic engagement coordinator.
UF joins a group of 394 colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for completing these four actions:
- Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
- Sharing 2020 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN.
- Developing and submitting a 2022 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN.
- Having a current signatory to ALL IN’s Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation. UF President Dr. Kent Fuchs signed on to the commitment in June 2020.
Most recently, UF’s voter outreach effort has culminated in the formation of UF’s first campus civic engagement cabinet, according to Dr. Cornacchione, which will be a permanent partnership of civic-minded organizations and campus institutions committed to developing and promoting a culture of civic engagement on campus year-round. Join the UF Civic Engagement Cabinet
“Much like our Gators Vote 2022 initiative, the Cabinet will meet regularly to discuss campus-wide civic engagement issues and efforts, share best practices and ideas, and pool resources to ensure every student has an opportunity to make their voice heard in our community, state, nation, and world,” Cornacchione said.
College student voter turnout has increased across the U.S. since 2016, largely due to efforts of programs like the ALL IN challenge.
“Through the Gators Vote Initiative 2022, UF students registered voters, served on our campus voting coalition, spearheaded voter education efforts, publicized the availability of our campus polling location at the Reitz, and organized other voter engagement efforts to ensure their peers were confident and informed voters,” Cornacchione said.
“We are excited to see what the civic engagement cabinet will continue to accomplish ahead of the 2024 election cycle.”
Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN Challenge staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages over 9 million students from more than 950 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Campuses can join the ALL IN Challenge at this link.