Student Voting Rate at University of Baltimore Among Highest in Nation
September 27, 2019
Contact: Office of Government and Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
The student voting rate at the University of Baltimore is among the highest in the nation, increasing to 59.1 percent in 2018 from 37 percent in 2014. The UB rate was included in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), conducted by the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE) at Tufts University. The larger overall report, "Democracy Counts 2018," revealed a national voter participation rate of 39.1 percent, an increase from 19.7 percent in 2014.
"We are certainly among the highest level of participating institutions, which is wonderful news," said Nicole Marano, associate vice president for Student Success and Support services at UB. "UB has been above the national average for student voter turnout by approximately 20 percent during the last two elections."
Since 2016, the University of Baltimore's UB Votes project has leveraged campus resources to increase student participation in voting and promote greater student participation in the democratic process. Student participation in this effort is key, University officials agree.
"It all starts with our students," said Anthony Butler, director of the Rosenberg Center for Student Involvement. "UB Votes is led by two Vote Everywhere Ambassadors—UB students who care about democratic engagement and want to increase student awareness and participation in our civic life."
Through a grant from the Andrew Goodman Foundation, two student ambassadors are selected each year, and are provided with programming dollars to create voter engagement activities, registration drives, and campus conversations. A few recent UB Votes Initiatives include:
- an election day bash where students celebrated their right to vote;
- panel discussions with civic leaders;
- Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day outreach;
- classroom visits and information tables;
- co-sponsorship of campus and community forum discussions.
"The University of Baltimore has a history of favorable voter engagement," Butler said. "But we want to continue the conversation and build on that, to create even deeper voter engagement and more meaningful civic outcomes for our students."
This year, Butler noted, the Vote Everywhere Ambassadors are focusing their efforts on dialogue around voters' rights and voter suppression.
The University of Baltimore has been recognized as a Voter Friendly Campus by the Campus Vote Project and NASPA (Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education) and participates in the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge, nationwide efforts to promote greater levels of civic engagement on college campuses.
Learn more about the National Study of Learning,Voting, and Engagement.