Illinois State University students had a voting rate of 64.8% during the 2020 election, according to the National Study for Learning and Voter Engagement (NSLVE). The 2020 election report was released in late 2021.
Illinois State University is one of many campuses that participates in this biannual national study led by Tufts University.
Harriett Steinbach, assistant director in the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) and co-chair of the 2020 Voter Engagement Coalition said, “Illinois State has been participating in the study since 2014. It is an excellent way to quantify voter engagement efforts and understand student voting patterns.”
Previous reports are available on the CCE website.
The 2020 report for Illinois State indicated that 82.2% of eligible students registered to vote. Of those registered, 78.8% of students voted. This led to an overall voting rate of 64.8% which is an increase of 14 points from 2016 and consistent with the national average of 66%.
The report also provides insight into voting patterns by year in school, enrollment status, and field of study. Department chairs and civic engagement ambassadors will receive their department-specific data in the coming weeks.
“We are so proud of our 2020 voter engagement efforts. Even amidst a global pandemic, our students turned out to vote at higher rates. Our students are building the life-long habit of civic participation,” said Steinbach.
The voting rate earned Illinois State University a silver seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The silver seal recognizes campuses with a 59.5%–69.4% voting rate. The University was previously recognized in March 2021 with the Voter Friendly Campus designation for its 2020 election efforts by NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the Campus Vote Project.
Read the full Illinois State University 2020 report.
Learn more about nationwide college student voter participation by reading the NSLVE national report. The cover photo features Illinois State students Joshua Crockett and Nakiya Simpson, who both served as 2020 election fellows.
The University’s Voter Engagement Coalition is already looking ahead to the 2022 primary election taking place on June 28. See the Redbird Voter Guide for updated information on the 2022 primary.
