Mercer Times

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) has received a bronze seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for its efforts in promoting nonpartisan student voter engagement during the 2022 midterm elections. The TCNJ Votes! program is designed to boost student voter registration and participation, providing students with opportunities to engage and learn about the influence of politics and elections on their lives.

Avani Rana, director of co-curricular and leadership development at TCNJ and liaison for the ALL IN program, expressed pride in receiving the bronze seal. "We are proud to have earned a bronze seal for the 2022 midterm election cycle as a reflection of our commitment to increasing the level of nonpartisan political interest and activity on our campus," said Rana. She also noted optimism for increased student turnout in the upcoming presidential election.

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge supports colleges and universities in achieving excellence in nonpartisan democratic engagement among students. It uses data from Tufts University's National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement to assess student voter turnout.

Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, highlighted the readiness of participating campuses for future elections. "Ahead of the 2024 elections, ALL IN campuses are ready to build on the momentum from 2022 to ensure their communities are ready to make an even bigger impact this fall," she stated. "ALL IN is proud to celebrate and honor top-performing campuses, like TCNJ, that demonstrate that nonpartisan student voter engagement is possible and effective."

Over 1,060 institutions with more than 10 million students participate in this initiative.