The Otterbein University Center for Community Engagement (CCE) partnered with groups across campus to encourage student voter registration, awareness, and electoral participation with its #otterbeinVOTES initiative. The kick-off for #otterbeinVOTES on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, brought in more than 100 people to learn more about voting in Ohio. “The #otterbeinVOTES campaign is a cross-campus, nonpartisan effort to mobilize our students to participate in the political process, educate themselves about the candidates and issues and vote,” said CCE Director Melissa Gilbert. According to the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, 68.7% of Otterbein students were registered to vote and 16.9% voted in 2014. Just four years later, 79.4% were registered to vote and 45.2% voted in the 2018 midterm election.
Sophmore Lindsey Payton was among the student leaders who organized a number of events to generate voter awareness and engagement.
