Taylor University and the Election Engagement Grant: Taylor Votes

Community-Engaged Alliance is dedicated to supporting a range of election education and engagement activities across campuses during what promises to be a very busy fall election season. Our initiatives extend beyond voter registration to foster a deeper understanding of elections and the essential role they play in a democratic society. 

Embracing Civic Responsibility

Community engagement is a foundational component of a Taylor University education. Every fall, each incoming cohort of undergraduate students spends the Monday before the first day of classes engaged in a service project in one of the local communities surrounding the campus. Taylor Votes builds upon this core ethic by demonstrating how engagement with local communities extends beyond acts of individual service to the communal practices of civic life that define participation in a representative democracy. 

Engaging Students Creatively

Recognizing that many undergraduate students feel alienated from politics due to partisan polarization and the sneering tone of much political discourse, Taylor Votes promotes creative methods to engage them in voter registration and political education. The project emphasizes peer-to-peer persuasion. Even the most winsome faculty members encounter a certain degree of resistance when making the case for civic engagement. Thus, Taylor Votes foregrounds the role of undergraduate voter registration ambassadors in encouraging their peers to embrace the responsibilities of citizenship. 

Integrating Civic Engagement into Campus Life 

Taylor Votes also acknowledges the vital role that residential spaces play in campus life. While voter registration initiatives will unfold in classrooms and high-volume public spaces, the project will also collaborate with student development staff to bring the initiative into residence halls. This approach ensures that the message of civic engagement permeates all aspects of student life. 

Beyond Voter Registration

Though voter registration efforts will comprise the main work of the project, Taylor Votes understands that some of the most essential tasks of citizenship occur during and immediately after votes have been counted. To address this, the project will host two corporate gatherings that not only celebrate the work of the preceding months but, most critically, provide a civil environment in which students can begin to dialogue as they process the election returns. 

Culture of Civic Engagement

Taylor University, through the Election Engagement Grant and the Taylor Votes initiative, exemplifies how institutions of higher learning can foster a culture of civic engagement. By combining service with political participation, Taylor University empowers its students to become active, informed citizens who contribute thoughtfully to the democratic process.  

Community-Engaged Alliance is proud to support such comprehensive efforts, which ensure that election education and engagement activities resonate deeply and sustainably within the student body.