Loyola receives democratic engagement award for increase in student voters from 2014 to 2018 elections

Loyola University Maryland received the Silver Seal Award at the national ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Awards Ceremony for excellence in student voter engagement. 

According to a study by the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), Loyola experienced an increase in student voters from 13.9% in 2014 to 33.9% in 2018. The 20-point increase between the two election years helped Loyola receive the Silver Seal Award.

The study also showed an increase in the number of Loyola students who registered to vote from 65% in 2014 to 79.5% in 2018. An increase in the voting rate of students who registered to vote was also reported from 21.4% in 2014 to 42.6% in 2018. In-person voting and absentee ballots were the two most popular methods of voting by Loyola students in both election years.

“We are honored to be recognized with the schools who have achieved the Silver Seal Award,” said Elise Gower, associate director of programs for the Center for Community Service and Justice. “This recognition, as well as our NSLVE data, highlights Loyola’s commitment to civic engagement, and also serves as a call to action to support our students’ access to vote. Our university’s strategic plan prioritizes Ignatian citizenship and the ‘promotion of thoughtful and active civic and global engagement among all members of our community.’ In living out our mission and core values, we urge all members of our community to be informed and to vote.”

The study shows that nationwide the voting rates at participating college campuses doubled on average compared to the previous 2014 midterm. Voter turnout at the more than 1,000 institutions participating in the study increased by 21 points from 19% to 40%. 

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement and full student voter participation. The Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship and make democratic participation a core value on their campus.

Last year, TurboVote ranked Loyola No. 1 for the total number of students who registered for voter resources at the University using LoyolaVotes sign-ups.