WU voter turnout rose 8.4 points between the 2016 and 2020 elections

Engagement of eligible voters in the St. Louis City mayoral primary was just 22.12%, with 44,538 people casting 69,607 votes using the new “approval voting” system, March 2.

A streamlined voting process enabled a smooth Election Day for on-campus Washington University undergraduate voters, as Republicans swept Missouri’s elections and won a swing House district just west of the University.

Just 52.5% of eligible students voted in 2016 and 41.8% in 2018, but as students head to the polls today, there is optimism that student voter turnout will increase from past years to meet WashU Votes’ goal of 62.5%.

This year, WashU Votes has collaborated with the athletic department and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to run a series of initiatives to help student-athletes engage with the election.

Here’s a list of ways that you can get involved in the election on campus this year and remain informed.

WashU Votes, a partner of the Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, is aiming to increase student voter turnout for the Nov. 3 presidential election by 10 points from 2016.

College Democrats and the Gephardt Institute have ramped up efforts to maintain high political engagement within the student body as the March 10 Democratic primaries and the November presidential election approach.

WashU Votes, an arm of the Washington University Gephardt Institute, teamed up with Student Union to host a Party at the Polls event during the national midterm elections Nov. 6.