Democratic Engagement – PHENND

YSA’s 2026 ServiceVote Campaign

hillarya — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 22:04:26 +0000

Youth Service America’s (YSA) ServiceVote campaign asks young people to help register, educate, and get their peers out to vote; to connect their volunteering and service to voting and advocacy on the issues they care about; and to call on public officials to create spaces at every decision-making table for young voices.

For voter registration initiatives, YSA recommends that you connect with our partners at The Civics Center (organizers of High School Voter Registration Weeks), Nonprofit VOTE (organizers of National Voter Registration Day), or the League of Women Voters.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan organization that has fought since 1920 to empower voters and defend democracy. They conduct voter registration, education, mobilization, and election protection at the national and local levels through 800+ chapters nationwide. They also power VOTE411.org, a one-stop shop for all the tools and information a voter needs to make their voice heard. With more than a million members and supporters, the League is one of the most trusted nonpartisan civic organizations in the country.

LWV has partnered with youth and youth-focused organizations since its founding, empowering and equipping young people to be civic leaders in their own communities. Local Leagues have strong relationships with school districts, college campuses, and youth-focused organizations, and work together to host civic education events, conduct voter registration drives, and more. If you’re interested in partnering with your local League, you can find contact information and reach out here.

Collaborate on a voter registration drive or another civic holiday event: Local Leagues love to host voter registration drives with partners. If you’re interested in hosting a drive to celebrate National Voter Registration Day on or around September 15th, reach out to your local League to inquire!

If you’re not hosting an event, you can still help your community update their voter registration status / register to vote at VOTE411.org.

Access more resources.

Colleges’ Next Step In Civic Engagement: Recruiting Poll Workers

hillarya — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:30:20 +0000

Growing up, civic engagement was always around me. My mom has worked the polls during elections, so Election Day had a familiar routine in my family. I would go with my dad while he voted, stop by to see my mom, say hello to her friends and fellow poll workers, and collect my ‘I Voted’ sticker. At the time, I didn’t think much about the people who made elections happen, I just knew my mom was one of them.

In high school, I became interested in local government and how communities come together to make decisions. What made it even more meaningful was being able to connect what I was learning in my classes to someone I knew. By the time I turned 18, I knew I wanted to be part of the process myself. I wanted to be a poll worker, like my mom.

I have now worked as a poll worker in my small Kentucky town for three years, and I have absolutely fallen in love with it. Working the polls has taught me a lot about elections, but the most valuable lessons have come from the people I’ve met. On Election Day, I am often one of the youngest people in the room. Many of the people I work alongside have been serving our community for decades.

Voting 101 Resources: Info on Provisional Ballots & Resource for Multilingual Voters

hillarya — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:23:34 +0000

Election Day is less than 100 days away, and it’s important to prepare your campus community so that they can cast their ballot with confidence!

The ALL IN team has developed Voting 101 resources, written guides to help student voters to navigate the voting process.

Check out our information on provisional ballots and our resource for multilingual voters.

2026 ALL IN Party at the Polls Interest Form

hillarya — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:20:20 +0000

Are you ready to party at the polls this year? Whether it’s during early voting or on Election Day, hosting a Party at the Polls event — complete with food, music, and positive energy — is a proven, nonpartisan way to boost student voter turnout and foster a lifelong culture of civic participation. ALL IN will provide training, guidance, swag and other support to help campuses bring nonpartisan voting celebrations to campus. Small party-hosting grants will also be available in some locations. Bring Party at the Polls to your campus by filling out our Party at the Polls Interest Form.

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Fall Virtual Town Hall – Sep 23

hillarya — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:15:14 +0000

With the start of a new academic year, the ALL IN team is offering conversation space for campus contacts to explore the possibilities of uplifting nonpartisan opportunities to engage students in nonpartisan civic engagement opportunities throughout election season. By engaging in this session, participants will have space to connect with one another, discuss mutual concerns, and share resources with one another.

This virtual conversation is on Wednesday, September 23 at 2 PM ET.

Give Them Ballots

hillarya — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 18:39:21 +0000

Liberal education prepares students for citizenship. Colleges and universities must ensure they can vote.

In February 2026, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon declared, “American colleges and universities should be focused on teaching, learning, and research—not influencing elections.” Unfortunately, her definition of “influencing” appears expansive and seems to extend to nonpartisan activities such as on-campus voter registration drives designed to encourage civic engagement among students.

The statement came in a press release announcing a Department of Education investigation into the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE). NSLVE is a nonpartisan research initiative that tracks student voter participation; colleges and universities use its data to develop effective engagement strategies. The investigation extends to NSLVE’s sponsor, Tufts University, and the National Student Clearinghouse, which provides authoritative enrollment data for NSLVE’s analysis of student civic participation. The department has also threatened to revoke funding for the thousand-plus institutions participating in NSLVE.

Civic Learning Institute Fall 2026 Course Schedule

hillarya — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:31:37 +0000

Join the Civic Learning Institute for engaging, affordable professional learning designed for educators and civic learning practitioners in classrooms, museums, and other learning settings. These virtual courses are taught by academic experts from Harvard and beyond and combine flexible asynchronous learning with live sessions where participants can exchange ideas, learn from one another, and engage directly with instructors. You’ll also complete a practical application assignment tailored to your own context and receive feedback from experienced educators who are already using these ideas in their classrooms.

Difficult Conversations in the Classroom; Virtual Course, $15; October 1 – October 29, 2026 (four sessions)
Securing the “Blessings of Liberty”: The U.S. Constitution; Virtual Course, $15; October 8 – November 5, 2026 (four sessions)
A New Birth of Freedom: The Gettysburg Address; Virtual Course, $15; October 22 – November 19, 2026 (four sessions)

ALL IN & Pennsylvania Department of State Webinar: PA Campus Voting Challenge – Sep 17

hillarya — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:45:42 +0000

With the new academic year around the corner, we invite you to a webinar to prepare for the 2026 Midterm Elections.

ALL IN and the Pennsylvania Department of State invite you to a webinar to prepare for the 2026 Midterm Elections. We encourage you to invite members of your Campus’s voting coalition, including senior leadership, administrators, faculty, and students to attend.

This webinar will include:

Election information and resources from the Pennsylvania Department of State
Key program updates from ALL IN
Q&A with the Pennsylvania Department of State and ALL IN

ALL IN and the Pennsylvania Department of State partner on the Pennsylvania Campus Voting Challenge, a nonpartisan effort to increase and institutionalize civic engagement.

Webinar: Supporting Campuses as they Prepare for the 2026 Midterm Elections – Sep 2

hillarya — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 19:23:00 +0000

Thinking about how else to prepare for the fall election season?

Join ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Campus Compact, and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition for a webinar on September 2 at 3:00-4:00 PM Easterm as we break down the current state of nonpartisan student voter mobilization and spotlight relevant resources you can use ahead of the 2026 election.

By engaging in this session, participants will:

Hear updates on the current state of higher education and student voting from leaders in the space
Learn how ACE’s Updated Guidance on Voting Campaign Activities on College Campuses and organizational updates can support nonpartisan voter engagement
Stay updated with current resources from the nonpartisan student voting space

Campus Compact 2026 Election Rapid Response Mini-Grants – Apply by Aug 21

hillarya — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 19:17:54 +0000

Election seasons are among the most powerful opportunities higher education has to engage students and communities in civic life. The Election Rapid Response Mini-Grant Program offers $500-$5,000 in funding to campuses that will supplement nonpartisan civic engagement efforts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Funding can be implemented in one of two windows:

Get involved: Running from September to November, this phase supports pre-election voter education, mobilization, and Election Day preparation
Keep momentum: Running from November to January, this phase supports post-election reflection and continued civic organizing

Campus Compact member campuses are invited to apply to extend, seed, or accelerate work already underway. Apply today to seize this moment with innovative, student-centered approaches.

Learn more and apply by August 21.

Webinar: Navigating Changing Laws on Voter Registration Drives – Aug 5

hillarya — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 20:38:29 +0000

With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, voter registration efforts are entering a critical moment and staying informed has never been more important. From shifting deadlines to updated rules on registration drives, the landscape continues to evolve across states, making accurate, up-to-date information essential for anyone doing this work.

Join Nonprofit VOTE and the Fair Elections Center for the release of their 2026 State Voter Registration Guides. The guides, updated for every state, consist of a printable 2–3 page guide designed to be your organization’s one-stop-shop for confidently planning and carrying out voter registration efforts this fall.

Date and Time: Wednesday, August 5, 2:00 PM

Learn more and register.

Webinar: Election Heroes: How Poll Workers Shape Our Democracy – Aug 5

hillarya — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 20:33:45 +0000

Election Hero Day is October 20, 2026. As you begin planning your celebrations, let’s start by highlighting the election heroes that are on the front lines of our elections – poll workers!

Join the League of Women Voters to learn about the important role poll workers play in strengthening our democracy and how we can support them.

Date and Time: Wednesday, August 5, 1:00 PM

The Higher Education Democracy Exchange (HEDEX) Is Live

hillarya — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 20:49:24 +0000

For years, practitioners have done remarkable work in parallel. HEDEX gives it one home—where our field can contribute to build shared knowledge, cross-campus connections, and strengthen civic engagement efforts. The key features of HEDEX include:

Resource Hub: Find teaching resources, guides, toolkits, and emerging best practices to help campuses scale democratic and civic engagement work.
Civic Practitioners Directory: Get connected with higher education leaders and democracy-focused practitioners for cross-institutional collaboration.
Data Dashboard: Access data from national, campus, and community sources to help tell the story of civic impact across the country.
Credential Clearinghouse: Find credentialing opportunities, see civic knowledge validated, and help build a national record of democratic engagement.

The real power and potential of HEDEX will be realized by each of us engaging with, contributing to, and leveraging the platform. Join HEDEX today to contribute your resources, start making connections, and enhance your democratic engagement work.

Visit HEDEX.

Virtual Screening: John Lewis: Good Trouble – Aug 7

hillarya — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:34:24 +0000

Andrew Goodman Foundation’s 2026 National Civic Leadership Training Summit (NCLTS), Democracy: The Unfinished Promise, marks the 250th anniversary of the United States by looking ahead. Together, we’ll celebrate the progress we’ve made, confront the work that remains, and explore how the next generation is shaping the future of our democracy.

We are closing out NCLTS with a special virtual screening of the acclaimed documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble. As we reflect on this year’s theme, Congressman Lewis’s story reminds us that democracy moves forward because ordinary people choose to take action.

Date and Time: Friday, August 7, 4:00 PM

This is open to the public, so feel free to share with friends, family, and peers who would enjoy learning and being in community with us. Registration is required to attend.

New Report: Where Young Voters Can Decide Elections in 2026

hillarya — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 17:43:10 +0000

In a new report, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) shares its latest Youth Electoral Significance Index, breaking down where the country’s youngest voters are the most likely to have a major influence in 2026 congressional and gubernatorial elections.

Young voters are a large and powerful segment of the electorate that can have a major impact on the 2026 midterms. Close to 50 million youth, ages 18-29, are eligible to cast ballots, including more than 8 million newly eligible voters since the 2024 election. These young people can cast critical swing votes and shape electoral outcomes in races across the country.

Zoom Event: Party at the Polls Launch Call – Jul 29

hillarya — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:41:46 +0000

Join Civic Nation and the When We All Vote team for the Party at the Polls Launch Call! Party at the Polls is a nonpartisan program that activates communities, reinvents the voting experience, and ultimately boosts turnout among underrepresented voters. By hosting culturally relevant celebrations and promoting community-led parties, you can encourage voters to make their voices heard and create easy on-ramps to participation. Learn more about the program, what makes a successful Party at the Polls, and what resources will be available to support you in hosting an event this fall.

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 29, 4:00 PM

Learn more and register.

Webinar: How Nonprofits Can Contribute to Voter Safety for Free and Fair Elections – Jul 29

hillarya — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:38:06 +0000

Every voter deserves to cast a ballot safely and confidently. Join Nonprofit VOTE alongside national partners for a practical conversation about helping communities navigate today’s election environment. They’ll cover trusted voter safety resources, answer common questions nonprofits are hearing from communities, and discuss how organizations can prepare staff and volunteers to respond with accurate, nonpartisan information.

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 29, 2:00 PM

Learn more and register.

2026 National Student Vote Summit – Nov 18-20

hillarya — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 21:49:58 +0000

The 2026 National Student Vote Summit will be November 18-20, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona at Mesa Community College.

After years of gathering on the East Coast, we’re excited to bring the summit to the Southwest for the first time, opening the door to new partners, new perspectives, and student leaders we don’t always get to convene with.

In collaboration with Mesa Community College’s Center for Civic Engagement and the Mesa Community College District, we’ll create an inspiring space for learning, connection, and celebration where every participant leaves equipped with the tools, relationships, and momentum to make 2027 a historic year for nonpartisan student voter engagement.

At the summit, we bring together nonprofit leaders, campus staff, administrators, faculty members, philanthropic partners, election officials, and students from across the country to continue a decade-strong tradition of collective action and impact.

This year, we will build on the momentum and insights from our 2025 Summit, where more than 330 nonpartisan student vote leaders took on challenges like local election turnout, combating misinformation, and reducing post-election disengagement. Together we aim to amplify our collective power and chart a course for an even more impactful 2027.

Learn more and register.

PS: Travel Support is available on a limited basis, with priority given to Minority Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Community Colleges and Rural Serving Institutions. Deadline is August 16. Learn more here!

Call for Proposals: 2026 National Student Vote Summit – Jul 21

hillarya — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 16:51:41 +0000

The Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition is now accepting session and poster proposals for the 2026 National Student Vote Summit, taking place November 18-20 at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona.

NSVS brings together practitioners, campus staff, faculty, nonprofit partners, local election officials, and students from across the country to share what’s working, what’s not, and where we go from here in nonpartisan student voter engagement. This is the first time the Summit comes to the Southwest, and the program aims to reflect the full range of voices and expertise doing this work nationwide.

Session proposals are open to campus admin, faculty, nonprofit staff, local election officials, and other civic engagement practitioners, with students welcome when submitting alongside a campus or nonprofit partner. Poster proposals are open to students focused on nonpartisan voter engagement work on their campus.

Proposal tracks include, but are not limited to: student leadership and organizing, voting rights and voter education, nonpartisan civic engagement beyond voting, institutionalization, creativity and storytelling, wellbeing, and navigating challenges.

The deadline for both is 11:59 PM PT on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

Learn more here and submit your proposal here.

YSA New National Strategy to Double Youth Participation in American Civic Life

hillarya — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:58:25 +0000

Youth Service America celebrated America 250 by launching a new national plan to double youth participation in American civic life – through volunteering and service; voting and civic engagement; youth voice and leadership; and joining and philanthropy – over the next 10 years on the way to universal youth participation.

We know that only 1 in 4 young people are regularly involved in the civic life of their communities. That means 64 million young Americans are left out of participating in our democracy.

Youth Service America (YSA) is leading a national alliance of organizations working to build A New Era of Youth Service in America. Launching during America250, the New Era of Youth Service National Strategy leverages the opportunities of this once-in-a-lifetime civic moment to focus the Nation’s K-12 schools and higher education institutions, afterschool and youth development programs, community-based and faith-based organizations, and state and local governments on creating a civic culture that builds on the progress of the last 250 years and strengthens our democracy for the next 250 years.