The University of California, Santa Cruz has been named a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting, an honor awarded to 471 colleges and universities across the country for their efforts to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement.
“This recognition is a testament to the commitment that so many of our students, staff, and faculty have to civic engagement,” said Elizabeth Beaumont, Associate Professor of Politics and Legal Studies at UC Santa Cruz, who has led the campus’s involvement in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge since 2018. “At a time when democracy is deeply imperfect and facing significant challenges, it is crucial that our campus is providing students with opportunities to help shape the future of democracy through their votes and their voices.”
This recognition reflects the university's commitment to ensuring students are registered, informed, and empowered to exercise their right to vote. The campus earned special acknowledgment in the California State Ballot Bowl for achieving the Highest Percentage of Students Registered to Vote. This was the campus’s first year in the Ballot Bowl and it marked a significant step as all UC campuses joined the competition in 2024.
The campus also conducted a highly successful social media campaign for National Voter Registration Day on September 17, engaging over 45,000 individuals on its main Instagram account and inspiring 192 students to register to vote that day. These efforts were amplified by collaboration with various campus partners, who promoted voter registration on their own social media platforms.
“UC Santa Cruz is committed to fostering an engaged and informed campus community,” said Melissa Whatley, Executive Director of Government and Community Relations at UC Santa Cruz. “This recognition highlights the importance of empowering our students to participate in shaping our democracy.”
Key to the university’s efforts was its partnership with the Santa Cruz County and Santa Clara County Election and Voter Registration Departments. This collaboration played a pivotal role in voter outreach, registration drives, and ensuring access to polling places. "We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of the Santa Cruz County elections team," Whatley said.
On campus, students were highly active in promoting voter engagement. Both staff and students participated as voting poll workers and, at Quarry Plaza, student organizations set up information tables to educate their peers about state ballot initiatives. Leadership from UC Santa Cruz’s student government, with support from campus staff, helped arrange transportation to polling locations, further breaking down barriers to student participation in the electoral process.
These efforts were among the many strategies included in the university’s Democratic Engagement Action Plan, which was authored by Elizabeth Beaumont and earned a perfect score from the California Secretary of State’s Voter Empowerment Project. This comprehensive Plan reflects UC Santa Cruz’s dedication to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to make their voices heard.
By cultivating a culture of civic engagement and fostering meaningful collaborations, UC Santa Cruz is empowering its students to participate in democracy. This recognition as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting underscores the campus’s unwavering commitment to that goal.
