Higher education confers countless benefits to individuals and society. Among these are supporting and protecting democracy. Those who attend higher education are more likely to be civically engaged—including registering and turning out to vote—regardless of their political affiliation. But such outcomes are not accidental, and democracy is not a spectator sport.
Both good policy and institution-level efforts must align to help students overcome structural barriers to civic participation. Limits on voting access and inequality in family financial resources impact who can register to vote, cast a ballot, volunteer, and engage in public service.
While college students have been voting at higher numbers in recent years, millions of eligible student voters are still missing from the polls. This brief, Boosting the Student Voice & Student Vote: Leveraging Higher Education to Expand Participation in Democracy, explores policy options to expand non-partisan voter participation. These efforts are urgently needed to reinvigorate civic life and provide all students with opportunities to engage with their democracy.
Note: This brief was finalized in November 2023 and embargoed for release until March 2024. The U.S. Department of Education released a voter toolkit and Federal Work-Study guidance in February 2024.