Mercer Times

As Election Day 2024 nears, Princeton University's Vote100 initiative continues to make strides in boosting student civic engagement. Established in 2015, this nonpartisan effort has significantly increased voter registration rates among both undergraduate and graduate students. Seventy-five percent of eligible Princeton students participated in the last general election.

On Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to midnight, Vote100 and the Whig-Cliosophic Society will host an election results watch party at the Whig Hall Senate Chamber. The event will feature remarks by Ron Allen, Ferris Professor of Journalism; John Londregan, professor of politics and international affairs; and Sam Wang, professor of neuroscience.

Vote100 is led by students in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students (ODUS). The group aims to encourage civic engagement and increase voting participation among Princeton's student body.

Anjali Brunnermeier, a Vote100 Head Fellow, emphasized the importance of voting: “I tell students that voting is the key to seeing the issues we care about put at the forefront of the policy agenda.” She highlighted that voting influences both local decisions and national policies.

Since its inception, Vote100 has organized various activities such as campus voter registration drives, debate watch parties, absentee ballot assistance, transportation to polling places in Princeton, and social media campaigns promoting electoral participation. In 2020, their efforts resulted in a higher than average national college student turnout rate for elections.

The program's success can be seen in rising registration numbers: from 40% in 2014 midterms to 81% in 2022 midterms. This fall alone saw 788 registrations through TurboVote.

Vote100 collaborates with organizations like ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and New Jersey Department of State's Ballot Bowl. On September 28th, Princeton hosted its second New Jersey Voting Summit bringing together representatives from multiple colleges to discuss strategies for increasing student electoral participation. Eric Kipnis from New Jersey Department of State spoke on civic engagement's importance.

Genevieve Shutt shared her experiences at this summit: “Hearing from fellow student leaders about their efforts...was truly inspiring.” The event fostered exchange between different institutions on fostering civic responsibility despite varied campus environments.

Additional resources are available on platforms such as Vote100’s website and Princeton TurboVote site for those seeking further information or wanting to engage more deeply with civic duties.