In 2020, 66% of registered voters cast a ballot for the presidential election. This is the highest population of voters for any national US election since 1900. The right to vote is a basic human right granted to all citizens regardless of race, religion, sex, ability, or sexual orientation. Whichever vote you are casting, Pennsylvania is an important place to. In the 2016 election, Republicans won Pennsylvania by 2.8%. The 2020 election had an even smaller margin win with a 1.17% in favor of the democratic party.
Dickinson Votes is a group of faculty, staff, and students who work together to educate Dickinsonians about voting in Pennsylvania elections. Erik Love, Associate Professor of Sociology, responded to a series of questions regarding his involvement as a faculty member with Dickinson Votes. Love has been working with Dickinson Votes for 10 years, which is as long as the program has existed on campus. Another professor largely involved with Dson Votes is Sarah Niebler who works in the Political Science department. The main work of this group encompasses educating Dickinsonians about voting in Pennsylvania elections. In terms of the involvement of our student body, the most recent data from the November 2020 election, showed 94% of eligible Dickinson students were registered to vote, and 85% voted in that election. This number was substantially larger from just two years prior in 2018 when 87% of eligible students were registered, and 49% voted.
Love discussed displacement as an issue that causes lower voter rates because voters recently moved to a new location. Lots of students don’t vote because of the temporary conditions of their location but, as he stated,“if you keep waiting to start voting because you “only” live someplace for a few years at a time, then suddenly you’ll be 65 years old before you start voting!” Love said, emphasizing the lack of a permanent residence is no less of a reason to vote. It might be challenging to understand how your vote could potentially have an impact but it could especially in a swing state.
With a large college voting turnout, Dickinson Votes was awarded the All In Democracy Challenge Platinum Award for 80-85% participation in 2020 and the Bronze Award for 90-95% in 2022, indicating that the pandemic did not reduce our student’s participation in voting. In communities where it’s not the norm to cast a ballot, it is inspiring to see others caring about the vote. This is exactly the motive behind Dickinson Votes. Once students realize that “they can have a real impact on issues that matter to them like climate change, gender equity, and justice reform,” they will feel swayed to vote. Voting is a way to voice our beliefs and actively engage
in the community of Carlisle.
