At the 2019 ALL IN Challenge awards ceremony recognizing colleges and universities committed to increasing college student voting rates, UNC Charlotte received a silver seal for achieving a student rate between 30 and 39 percent.
Tamara Johnson, director of engaged scholarship, said, “UNC Charlotte's increase in midterm election voter engagement is a reflection of trends on college campuses across the country. We encourage students to examine the ways in which policy at the federal, state and local levels affects their personal and professional lives. The 49er Democracy Experience looks forward to continuing our collaborative work to build a campus culture of civic engagement."
UNC Charlotte emphasizes education and community engagement, particularly around the civic process, which includes the 49er Democracy Experience, a dynamic, nonpartisan platform for the University community to learn about and engage in civic life.
Through the 49er Democracy Experience, launched prior to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, University expert faculty, civic-minded students and community partners come together to deliver educational programming and participate in activities that enhance public understanding of and participation in the democratic process. As part of this effort, the 49er Democracy Experience has hosted voter registration drives, information sessions and shuttled the University community to the closest polling locations.
Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, said, “More institutions like UNC Charlotte are changing the culture on campuses by institutionalizing nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts that are resulting in the incredible student voter turnout rates that we’ve seen across the country.”
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement and full student voter participation.
More than 560 campuses, enrolling more than 6.2 million students, have joined the challenge since its launch in summer 2016.