MACON — Mercer University was recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) for Excellence in Student Voter Engagement after, for the third time, earning the highest student voter participation award among Southern Conference (SoCon) institutions.
“Receiving this recognition is a testament to our institutional commitment that began years ago as a student initiative,” said Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Doug Pearson. “The SoCon challenge, which mirrors college athletic conferences, started right here at Mercer University and has now grown to be a national model for increasing student civic engagement.”
Mercer received the SoConVotes Highest Voting Rate for nonpartisan student voter participation efforts in the 2022 midterm election and earned a Gold Seal from ALL IN for achieving a midterm voting rate between 40-49%. Mercer’s voting rate was 44%, reflecting the University’s commitment to ensuring that nonpartisan democratic engagement is a defining feature of campus life.
“Achieving the highest voting rate in the SoCon is a testament to Mercer’s commitment to civic responsibility and fostering an engaged campus community,” said Associate Director of Engaged Learning Lauren Shinholster. “As a three-time award winner, I am most proud of our sustained achievement and the collective dedication of our students, faculty, staff and community partners. We hope to build on this success for the 2024 election.”
Mercer was recognized alongside more than 500 campuses using data from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) out of Tufts University, which found that colleges and universities had the second-highest voter turnout among students in a midterm election since NSLVE began measuring this data.
More than 1,060 institutions enrolling more than 10 million students participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which supports colleges and universities in achieving excellence in nonpartisan student voter engagement.
About SoCon Votes
SoCon Votes, the NCAA Division I conference championship for voter participation, was developed by Mercer alumnus Joey Wozniak during his senior year. Wozniak received a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and technical assistance from the Academic Exchange and Council of Chief Student Affairs Officers within the Southern Conference.
ABOUT ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge:
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) is a national nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives to change civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs on college campuses, making voter participation a defining feature of campus life. ALL IN, in collaboration with over 1,050 higher education institutions, seeks to make participation in local, state, and federal elections a social norm; substantially increase the number of college students who are democratically engaged on an ongoing basis, during and between elections, and not just at the polls, and; make educating for democratic engagement on college campuses an accepted and expected part of the culture and curriculum so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and values needed to be an informed and active citizen.
