Buffalo State University Recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

Buffalo State University has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. Buffalo State joins a group of 471 colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for completing four core actions:

• Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
• Sharing 2022 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN
• Developing and submitting a 2024 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN
• Having a current signatory to ALL IN's Higher Education Presidents' Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation.

"Civic engagement is the cornerstone of a free democracy and extends beyond casting a vote-it is an empowering act that allows every individual to contribute to shaping the future of our society," said Buffalo State University interim president Bonita R. Durand., Ph.D. "It comes alive in various ways on our campus, from attending educational forums, participating in voter registration drives, to joining rallies, and more. Each of these activities has played a role in fostering a spirit of active citizenship at Buffalo State, and I am filled with admiration for the way our community has risen to the challenge."

"The research is clear: colleges and universities that make intentional efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement have higher campus voter registration and voter turnout rates. This year we saw more colleges than ever before step up their efforts to ensure that their students were registered and ready to make their voices heard at the ballot box," said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. "These Most Engaged Campuses are setting the standard for nonpartisan civic engagement work for colleges and universities across the country."

This year, Buffalo State established the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center as an on-campus polling site for students. In collaboration with the Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner Civic and Community Engagement Office (CCE), Student Affairs, and the League of Women Voters Buffalo Niagara (LWVBN), the university registered 296 incoming freshman and transfer students to vote during summer 2024's New Student Orientation sessions. A voting empowerment rally-co-sponsored by the Bengals Vote Coalition; the CCE; the Student Political Society; the Political Science, Public Administration, and Planning Department; and the LWVBN-was held on October 24.

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning and voter participation on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages 10.8 million students from more than 1,075 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Campuses can join the ALL IN Challenge here.

About ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge
ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Through an intentionally designed program that provides structure, support, and recognition, ALL IN works to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation on more than 1,075 campuses nationwide. ALL IN believes higher education should play a role in developing an active and informed citizenry by educating students, motivating them to engage in American democracy, and instilling the value of lifelong participation. ALL IN is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To learn more, visit the ALL IN website.

About Civic Nation
Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle some of our nation's most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to seven national initiatives and campaigns: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It's On Us, Save On Clean Energy, SAVE On Student Debt, We The Action, and When We All Vote. To learn more, visit the Civic Nation website.

Photo by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.