TWU joins campuses nationwide in effort to be voter friendly

 

Feb. 27, 2019 — DENTON — Texas Woman’s University is one of six institutions in Texas designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus” for 2019-2020.

This initiative, led by national nonpartisan organizations, Campus Vote Project and NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, held participating institutions accountable for planning and implementing practices that encouraged students to register to vote in the 2018 elections and in the coming years.

As part of the effort to be designated as a voter friendly campus, Texas Woman’s Civic Engagement Task Force held voter registration drives, “Walk to the Polls” events and provided numerous educational opportunities through its “Speak Up” series among other activities.

“TWU’s strategic plan prioritizes the development of women as leaders through service,” said Stephanie Krauth, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Student Engagement at TWU. “Our goals were to increase civic engagement across a diverse population and enhance our civic education.”

Although Texas voter turnout for the 2018 midterm elections increased from 2014 participation rates, the state still lags behind the nation. Out of the voting-eligible population in Texas, 46.3 percent voted in 2018, compared to 50.1 percent nationwide.

According to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement, TWU had a voting rate of 51.9 percent in 2016.

“Preparing students, particularly women, to participate in the democratic process is central to who we are as an institution,” said Krauth.

Institutions designated as voter friendly represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural and urban campuses. Other Texas campuses to earn the designation include: UT-Austin, Austin Community College, Southwestern University, Texas A&M-San Antonio and Texas Lutheran University.

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Page last updated 8:11 AM, February 28, 2019