Pandemic Proof Your Voter Outreach Strategy

Session Submission Type: TLC Virtual Workshop

Session Description

In this workshop political science professors at campuses across the U.S. will explain how they mobilized students to vote despite severe restrictions on face-to-fact contact. Attendees will learn how each campus adapted their voter registration, education, and mobilization activities to meet COVID-19 safety guidelines, including pioneering new ways to reach students online. Each campus used innovative approaches to maximize the number of students contacted as part of an Ask Every Student approach to political engagement. Learn how these professors found ways to meet students where they were, even when they could not be physically present. Move-days, ID pick up, book pick-up, virtual class meetings, virtual advising, online debate watch parties, voter information hubs, grab-and-go celebrations, and socially-distanced parties at the polls are just a few of the ways the campuses worked to get out the vote. Participants will explain how they maintained robust voter education programs despite the pandemic, with some engaging more students than ever before! This workshop will provide valuable ideas for faculty from all institution types and geographic areas, whether teaching face-to-face, hybrid, and online, along with time to plan your own voter mobilization programs in breakout groups moderated by the presenters. These innovative approaches will be useful long after the pandemic has passed as we continue to educate citizens for democracy. Ample time will be provided for Q&A, "workshopping" ideas, and for sharing of national resources and assessment data.

Sub Unit

• TLC at APSA

Chair

• Elizabeth A. Bennion Indiana University South Bend

Presenters

• Elizabeth C. Matto Rutgers University, New Brunswick

• Leah A. Murray Weber State University

• Allison Rank SUNY, Oswego State

• Carah Ong Whaley James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, James Madison University

• Abraham Goldberg James Madison University

• Edie N. Goldenberg University of Michigan, Ann Arbor