Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has been recognized as a leader in student voter engagement by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, earning three prestigious awards from the Mid-American Conference for the 2022 midterm elections. These accolades highlight EMU’s commitment to fostering a culture of civic responsibility and active participation among its student body.

EMU achieved the following distinctions for the 2022 midterm elections:

- Highest Voter Turnout: EMU achieved a voter turnout rate of 53.2%, significantly surpassing the national average of 30.6% for institutional voting rates.

- Highest Voter Registration: EMU recorded a voter registration rate of 85.8%, well above the national student voter registration rate of 76.1%.

- Most Improved Voter Turnout: EMU demonstrated growth in voter engagement, with a 7.6 percentage point increase in voter turnout compared to previous elections.

These achievements reflect the university’s dedication to empowering its students to participate actively in the democratic process. EMU’s success is part of a broader trend observed across more than 1,000 institutions participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which aims to support colleges and universities in achieving excellence in nonpartisan student voter engagement.

The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) reports, which campuses submitted to ALL IN, provided data for the awards. The NSLVE study, conducted by Tufts University, found that colleges and universities across the country saw the second-highest voter turnout among students in a midterm election on record.

Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, EMU plans to build on this momentum by continuing to reduce barriers to voting and providing students with resources and education they need to participate fully in the political process.

About ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. More than 1,060 institutions, enrolling over 10 million students, participate in the challenge, which supports campuses in cultivating informed and active citizens.

About Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Eastern Michigan University has been a member of the Mid-American Conference since 1971 and has been among the league's most successful members. The Division I program boasts 158 MAC team championships, the most of any team in the league during that span. Eastern Michigan, which has had a representative at every summer Olympics since 1960, has won 15 team national championships and 55 individual national titles since 1932. For more information about Eastern Michigan Athletics, visit EMUEagles.com.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through its Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit emich.edu for more information about Eastern Michigan University.