New voter registration portal encourages Hokie voices on Election Day
The registration tool is presented by VT Engage: The Center for Leadership and Service Learning.
VT Engage has launched an ALL IN To Vote online registration portal in a continued effort to increase civic engagement among students.
The new Virginia Tech portal allows both in-state and out-of-state students to fill out the initial information needed to register to vote. It then directs users to the proper state website or mailing address required to complete and submit their voter registration forms. The portal also offers educational, nonpartisan resources for voters to learn about candidates on their ballot.
"By clicking on the link, anybody eligible can get registered to vote," said Billy McKeon, civic engagement coordinator at VT Engage. "It's a great way for busy students to not only register, but to utilize the portal’s resources to quickly build the base of knowledge they need to embody Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) through civic engagement."
According to McKeon, the customized voter registration portal's creation reflects Virginia Tech's partnership with ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, an initiative by nonprofit organization Civic Nation aimed at increasing democratic education and engagement among college and university students and providing access to voter registration and education resources among student voters.
Virginia Tech student voting patterns
Virginia Tech's student voter registration rates are consistently higher than the national average, according to a 2022 campus report by the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement. Virginia Tech has been recognized by ALL IN for both student registration and voter rates, most recently being awarded a bronze seal for the university’s 2022 voting rates. However, both registration and voting rates are significantly higher during presidential election years than those of midterm elections. While this is typical of the general voting populace, Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs, recognizes the disparity as an opportunity for growth.
"As members of a global, land-grant university community, developing civic leadership skills is one way we live out our motto, Ut Prosim," said Keene. "Serving our democracy and the communities we live in call us to engage in the political process by voting in local and national elections. By taking an active role in understanding the key issues in our society, we can each do our part to improve the quality of life for everyone."
As a result of university programs and initiatives surrounding civic participation, Virginia Tech has been a designated Voter Friendly Campus since 2021. The designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate a commitment to uplifting student engagement with general elections by submitting an action plan describing efforts to support democratic involvement and sharing the results of the plan’s implementation to the Voter Friendly Campus program.
Ways to get involved
VT Engage’s Engaging Hokie Voters workshop will analyze previous voting rates among students and highlight current initiatives to improve student civic engagement. The workshop will take place on Sept. 16 from 2-3 p.m. on Zoom or in-person and on Sept. 27 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Zoom.
"Civic engagement is happening around us all the time, and I encourage any student interested in exploring the world around them to check out our voting portal, the Civic Leadership Academy, and our Hokies Vote Caucus meetings," McKeon said.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting in Virginia begins Friday, Sept. 20. For voters to ensure that their votes will be counted on time, they must be registered to vote prior to Election Day. The voter registration deadline for Virginia is Oct. 15.
While Virginia voters can register on Election Day at their correct polling location, their ballots would then be provisional and subject to approval by the local electoral board before being counted. Registering by the Oct. 15 deadline prevents these complications.
To register to vote or view upcoming election information, visit VT Engage's voter registration portal. Additional information and resources regarding voter registration and eligibility can be found at the Office of the University Registrar's website.
For questions about voting at Virginia Tech, contact HokiesVote@vt.edu.
Written by Kyndall Hanson, a senior majoring in multimedia journalism and philosophy, politics, and economics
