In this episode of Michigan Minds, Edie Goldenberg, professor of public policy and political science at the Ford School of Public Policy, discusses the importance of civic engagement, especially among young voters, and details the University of Michigan’s involvement in the Big 10 Voting Challenge.

Goldenberg emphasizes the impact that local elections have on a lot of issues that she recognizes young people are passionate about, and encourages all who are able to vote to use their voice and do so.

“Not everybody is eligible to vote, but those who are really need to express their point of view. If they don’t do that, there’s no way that policymakers are likely to reflect those points of view in their decision-making,” she says.

The Big 10 Voting Challenge is one way that U-M students can get involved, she explains, adding that it’s a fun competition with other universities to increase voter turnout and improvement scores since the 2018 election.

The Ginsberg Center oversees U-M’s participation and works closely with undergraduate and graduate students, all 19 Ann Arbor schools and colleges, student life, athletics, and many others from across campus.

In 2018, U-M nearly tripled its student voter turnout compared to 2014, and Goldenberg says there are even higher aspirations set for 2020.

“We are aiming for something over 75 percent student voting in 2020. That’s pretty ambitious, but we think it’s achievable,” she says.

Many of the events for the Big 10 Voting Challenge were originally planned to be in person, but amid the COVID-19 pandemic they have shifted online. They have established numerous ways that students can get information, including the GoVote.UMich.edu website, an email just for voting questions: VoterRegQuestions@UMich.edu, and a texting platform at 833-4UM-VOTE.

“It’s very important that students try to vote early and safely, and this means many more absentee ballot requests,” she says, encouraging students to get their ballots early. “We will even provide a stamp if they sign up on the website.”

Goldenberg adds they hope to have a satellite clerk’s office set up on campus and a drop box on North Campus. Updates on these efforts will be available on the GoVote.UMich.edu website.

The University of Michigan recently launched a theme semester focused on Democracy & Debate to engage students, faculty, and staff in an exploration of free speech and exchange of ideas, what it means to be a member of a democratic society, and democratic engagement from a global perspective. The theme semester will link courses and events from across U-M and incorporate online learning opportunities, as well as voter engagement through the Big Ten Voting Challenge.