The ALL IN Campus Democracy challenge shared the results from a competition comparing 520 universities’ student voting rates on Sept. 17, and it spells out a huge accomplishment for GSCU. As the deadline for voter registration is approaching on Oct. 7, it is all the more prevalent that GCSU has obtained a Silver Seal Award from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
This award celebrates the university’s achievement of having a student voting rate 5% higher than the national average.
According to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement report, which was released by Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, GCSU had 30-39% of enrolled students participate in the 2022 midterm election. This amount is required for a campus to obtain the Silver Seal.
Emily Wright, a sophomore political science major, believes it is very important for students to be involved in elections.
“Oftentimes, those who are younger see themselves as less important when it comes to voting,” Wright said. “However, that could not be further from the truth. By voting, students are exercising their power as United States citizens and engaging themselves with the issues around them.”
In a democratic nation, the more kinds of people who vote, the more accurately elected officials represent the needs of the majority. Therefore, as GCSU students, it is vital to contribute to elections, and the Silver Seal Award recognizes this value.
“It is so important for students to vote because they are creating their own post-education future,” said Alexis Muoka, a freshman mass communication major.
“Our generation is the future of this nation in so many ways, so we must stand up for what we believe in,” said Wright. “Higher youth turnout sends a message to politicians that they cannot simply look past the younger generations. By exercising this right, we hold those in power accountable and make ourselves heard. Every vote counts and contributes to a better future.”
With the Silver Seal Award obtained, it is the perfect time for GCSU students to continue the school’s reputation for high levels of student election involvement.
“Voting is power,” said Hanah Deal, a freshman mass communication major. “I think GCSU values this award because it means our values of critical thought and civic duty are being passed on to its students.”
As a liberal arts institution, GCSU is focused on giving students a well-rounded education they can apply to decision-making in the real world, as stated on their official website. Deal explores the idea that by voting in government elections, GCSU students uphold the school’s mission and put their education to its intended use.
“Not only does it bolster the importance of civic engagement on campus, but it exhibits the liberal arts curriculum at work,” Wright said. “Georgia College tasks itself with developing students into well-rounded adults who engage socially with the world around them, and this award really shows the fruits of that labor.”
By voting in the upcoming 2024 and 2025 elections, students are exercising the right to use their voice in government and continuing GCSU’s high voter involvement.
