PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — With debate about the issues in full swing on campus and the U.S. presidential election just weeks away, Brown has joined forces with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a campaign to improve democratic engagement and increase student voter participation across the nation.

To participate in the nonpartisan Civic Nation’s challenge, Betsy Shimberg of the University’s Swearer Center for Public Service worked with students and colleagues at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs to develop an action plan. The plan detailed campus initiatives aimed at improving voter engagement — from voter registration drives to resources for students seeking absentee ballots to debate-viewing parties organized by the Brown Democrats, Brown Republicans and other groups — along with election-focused voter education events hosted by the Watson Institute.

“We’re thrilled that Brown is one of more than 200 campuses participating in the ALL IN Challenge,” Shimberg said. “Preparing to take part in the challenge has encouraged people on campus to collaborate more closely with peers to encourage voter registration and turnout, as well as voter education.” 

After the November election, the University will receive a report from the National Study of Learning, Voting 
and Engagement tracking Brown student voting participation rates. The report will assist in measuring democratic engagement trends across campus for future elections, Shimberg said, and Civic Nation will award institutions with the highest voter participation rates.

From Duke University and the University of Chicago, to the University of California-Los Angeles and all eight campuses of the State University of New York system, a total of 206 colleges and universities located in 39 states and enrolling more than 3 million students, have signed on to date.