College students juggling school, extracurricular activities, work and friends might forget to vote in Michigan’s General Election, but it’s something they should seriously consider, because their voices matter and their votes count. 

That’s why Davenport University partnered with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge to bring Party at the Polls to its campus communities during the early voting period in Michigan, which lasts until November 1.

This is the first time the university has held a voter event of this magnitude, but Natalie Wagner, PhD, Davenport’s director of Student Life, said it likely won’t be the last.“The goal of the event was to increase voter turnout and create a space where our communities can show up, celebrate and vote together, and we definitely accomplished that,” she said. 

Wagner also said state and local elections matter to everyone, including college students. “We encourage students to exercise their right to vote because they have the opportunity to vote on issues that directly impact them like student debt, funding for higher education and the economy.”

The celebrations, which took place at Davenport’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Warren campuses, created fun, welcoming environments where students could access unbiased, accurate voter information, ask questions, enjoy music and free food, score some DU swag and even catch a free ride to a nearby polling location.

“The weather was beautiful and we had a steady flow of people who either already voted or pledged to vote. Some even rode the shuttle to the early voting site,” said Wagner. “The League of Women Voters was also present, checking to see if people were registered to vote, providing voting resources and sharing their nonpartisan voting guide so students can make informed decisions.” 

Susan Crkovski, executive director of Davenport’s Warren Campus, said she was pleased with the inaugural event. “The turnout and enthusiasm surrounding voter participation were fantastic,” she said. 

Rashid Faisal, College of Urban Education department chair, was equally pleased with the amount of engagement at the Warren Campus. “Party at the Polls was a fun, engaging and informative event that helped bring people together around the importance of civic engagement and voter participation.” 

Faisal also expressed his appreciation for the partnership between Davenport’s College of Urban Education and the Sigma Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in presenting the Voteless People Is a Hopeless People exhibition. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to civic education, community engagement and empowering individuals to exercise their voices through the democratic process,” he said. 

Jenny Thurber, director of Student Services at the Lansing Campus, was thrilled with the turnout of faculty, staff, students and community members. “Representatives from the Lansing area League of Women Voters were on site, connecting with each visitor to make sure they were aware of the early voting option and the location of their local polling station,” she said. 

Wagner’s hope is that events like these will help empower college students to become active citizens and lifelong voters. “Voting is hope in action,” she said. “Casting a ballot is one way we can shape our futures, and when we show up together, our communities are impossible to ignore.”

Students who have not yet registered to vote can do so in person at their local clerk’s office through Election Day.