UMD recognized as 2024 ALL IN most engaged campus for college student voting

UMD is one of 471 colleges and universities recognized for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation in the 2024 election.

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation.

a seal for All In Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting 2024

UMD is part of a coalition of campuses coordinated by the MN Secretary of State's office that champions civic engagement. Alongside UMD, the U of M’s Twin Cities, Crookston and Morris campuses were also recognized by ALL IN as Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting in 2024. They join a group of 471 colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for completing four core actions:

  • Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
  • Sharing 2022 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN
  • Developing and submitting a 2024 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN
  • Having a current signatory to ALL IN’s Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation

“This award recognizes the incredible work of our students, faculty and staff to encourage civic engagement on our campus,” said Jeremy Leiferman, campus vote coordinator and interim vice chancellor & dean of students at UMD. “The strong coalition we have here on campus and throughout the state helps to foster a culture where our community understands the power of their voices, and the responsibility that we each have within a democracy. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to continuing this important work as we move forward.”

According to Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, the research is clear: colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates. “This year we saw more colleges than ever before step up their efforts to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” she said. “These Most Engaged Campuses are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country.”

  • In the past eight years, UMD has earned badge-eligible ratings in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2018 Midterm Election, 2020 Presidential Election, Presidential Commitment Signatory badge, and the 2022 Midterm Election
     

Award badges in a row, graphic


The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning and voter participation on their campus. This includes student leaders, like Julia Covert. Covert serves as UMD’s Student Government Association’s legislative relations director and worked as a voter engagement fellow with UMD’s ALL IN efforts, where she helped to plan events to motivate students around the upcoming election as well as educating them on civic engagement.

“My passion for working with students to help them find their voice and learn how to use it in state, local, and even federal government made this an incredible opportunity for me, and knowing that our work paid off is a great feeling,” Covert said. “Everyone knows that students are the future — looks like UMD is just a little ahead of the game!”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge engages 10.8 million students from more than 1,075 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Campuses can join the ALL IN Challenge online

 

Header Image: UMD, Minnesota and US flags on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus. Credit: University of Minnesota Duluth