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Michigan Collegiate Voting Challenge

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Michigan Collegiate Voting Challenge

Is your school up for the challenge?

The Michigan Collegiate Voting Challenge is a nonpartisan competition geared toward increasing student voter participation and engagement on college and university campuses across the state. Part of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, the competition is open to any post-secondary higher education institution in Michigan. Four-year and two-year schools will each battle it out to win up to three awards:

  • Highest campus voter turnout
  • Most improved campus voter turnout
  • Highest student voter registration rate

 

Join the Challenge

How the MCVC works

MCVC toolkit

2020 Michigan campus voter turnout

Actions to prepare for upcoming state, local and primary elections and the 2026 midterm election 

  1. Join the Michigan Collegiate Voting Challenge if your institution isn’t already participating. Visit this link for a list of participating campuses.
  2. Develop a campus nonpartisan civic engagement action plan using these action planning resources
  3. Submit your action plan to ALL IN.
  4. Authorize the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) housed at the CIRCLE at Tufts University to receive campus voting reports every two years. Check if your institution has authorized NSLVE.
  5. Encourage your campus president or chancellor to join more than 700 senior campus leaders by signing ALL IN’s Higher Education Presidents' Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation.
 

Participating colleges and universities

  • Albion College - Albion, MI
  • Central Michigan University - Mount Pleasant, MI
  • College for Creative Studies - Detroit, MI
  • Davenport University - Grand Rapids, MI
  • Delta College - University Center, MI
  • Eastern Michigan University - Ypsilanti, MI
  • Ferris State University - Big Rapids, MI 
  • Glen Oaks Community College - Centreville, MI
  • Grand Rapids Community College - Grand Rapids, MI
  • Grand Valley State University - Allendale, MI
  • Henry Ford College - Dearborn, MI
  • Hope College - Holland, MI
  • Kalamazoo College - Kalamazoo, MI
  • Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College - L'Anse, MI
  • Lake Michigan College - Benton Harbor, MI
  • Lake Superior State University - Sault Sainte Marie, MI
  • Lansing Community College - Lansing, MI
  • Lawrence Technological University - Southfield, MI
  • Madonna University - Livonia, MI
  • Michigan State University - East Lansing, MI
  • Michigan Technological University - Houghton, MI
  • Mid Michigan College - Harrison, MI
  • Mott Community College - Flint, MI
  • Muskegon Community College - Muskegon, MI
  • Northern Michigan University - Marquette, MI
  • Oakland Community College - Farmington Hills, MI
  • Oakland University - Rochester, MI
  • Saginaw Valley State University - University Center, MI
  • Southwestern Michigan College - Dowagiac, MI
  • St. Clair County Community College - Port Huron, MI
  • University of Michigan – Flint - Flint, MI
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI
  • University of Michigan-Dearborn - Dearborn, MI
  • Washtenaw Community College - Ann Arbor, MI
  • Wayne State University - Detroit, MI
  • Western Michigan University - Kalamazoo, MI

2024 Most engaged campuses for college student voting

Albion College
Central Michigan University
College for Creative Studies
Delta College
Eastern Michigan University
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Valley State University
Kalamazoo College
Lake Michigan College
Michigan State University

2022 State Winners 

4-Year Institutions
Highest Voting Rate: University of Michigan-Flint
Highest Voter Registration Rate: University of Michigan-Flint
Most Improved Voting Rate: Saginaw Valley State University
Community Colleges
Highest Voting Rate: Washtenaw Community College
Highest Voter Registration Rate: Delta College
Most Improved Voting Rate: Macomb Community College

 

2020 state winners

Highest Voter Registration Award, 2-year Institution: Delta College
Highest Voter Registration Award, 4-year Institution: University of Michigan-Flint
Most Improved Voter Turnout Award, 2-year Institution: Lansing Community College
Most Improved Voter Turnout Award, 4-year Institution: Michigan State University
Highest Voter Turnout Award, 2-year Institution: Muskegon Community College
Highest Voter Turnout Award, 4-year Institution: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Best Campus Democratic Engagement Action Plan Award, 2-year Institution: Delta College
Best Campus Democratic Engagement Action Plan Award, 4-year Institution: Grand Valley State University

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

  • Any 4-year or 2-year post-secondary institution in Michigan may sign up.

  • There are three award categories for both 4-year institutions and 2-year institutions, awarded based on student voter participation in the November 2020 election, using data from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE):

    • Highest campus voter turnout
    • Most improved campus voter turnout
    • Highest student voter registration rate.

    NSLVE reports are generated by the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University.

  • Yes, schools can register for the Michigan Collegiate Voting Challenge at no cost.

  • Institutions that opt in will be provided guidance and tools to create an action plan for increasing student engagement on their campus.

  • The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a national nonpartisan nonprofit that works in partnership with numerous local and national nonpartisan organizations in the Student Learn Students Vote coalition, which has more than 400 members. Participation in the Michigan Challenge will automatically include participation in the national ALL IN Challenge and awards competition.