Chapman University Recognized For Excellence in Student Voter Registration and Turnout During the 2022 Midterm Elections

Today, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) recognized Chapman University for its nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts that fostered high levels of student voter engagement in the 2022 midterm elections. In 2020, a presidential election year, 79.5% of Chapman University students voted, demonstrating a strong culture of civic participation on campus. In 2022, during the midterm elections, Chapman University received the Silver Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, recognizing a campus voting rate of 30-39%.

Chapman University is dedicated to fostering a culture of civic participation, not only in this recognition but also in the upcoming events aimed at continuing this momentum:

Voter Registration Bash – October 17: Chapman University will host a voter registration bash on campus, a lively event with games, food, and involvement from student groups. This “register to vote party” aims to encourage more students to engage in the democratic process.
OC Registrar of Voters Vote Center – November 2-5: From November 2 – 5, Chapman University will serve as an OC Registrar of Voters Vote Center in the Student Union. This center offers more than just a polling location; it allows individuals to register and vote on the same day. The Vote Center is open to the entire community, ensuring accessible voting opportunities for all.

Voting is habit-forming, and young voters who participate in early elections are likely to continue voting in subsequent elections. Additionally, young voters are more likely to be contacted by campaigns, making them visible and significant to elected officials.

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Chapman University was recognized alongside more than 500 campuses using data from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) out of Tufts University, which found that colleges and universities had the second-highest voter turnout among students in a midterm election since NSLVE began measuring this data.

Director of Student Engagement, Justin Koppelman shared, “It’s encouraging to once again see Chapman students voting at a higher rate than many of their peers across the country. I think it’s reflective of the many efforts organized across campus by Chapman staff, faculty, and students to help ensure students are prepared to vote in each election cycle.”

“The ALL IN Awards were created to celebrate nonpartisan democratic engagement and the outstanding campus voter registration and turnout rates achieved by our ALL IN campuses. Ahead of the 2024 elections, ALL IN campuses are ready to build on the momentum from 2022 to ensure their communities are ready to make an even bigger impact this fall,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “ALL IN is proud to celebrate and honor top-performing campuses, like Chapman University who demonstrate that nonpartisan student voter engagement is possible and effective.”

More than 1,060 institutions enrolling more than 10 million students participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which supports colleges and universities in achieving excellence in nonpartisan student voter engagement. Campuses can join ALL IN here.

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About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 66 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.

About All IN Campus Democracy Challenge:
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) is a national nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives to change civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs on college campuses, making voter participation a defining feature of campus life.

ALL IN, in collaboration with over 1,050 higher education institutions, seeks to make participation in local, state, and federal elections a social norm; substantially increase the number of college students who are democratically engaged on an ongoing basis, during and between elections, and not just at the polls, and; make educating for democratic engagement on college campuses an accepted and expected part of the culture and curriculum so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and values needed to be an informed and active citizen.