The University of Illinois Springfield has been named a Voter Friendly Campus for 2023-2024 by the Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. This is the second time that UIS has earned the designation.

UIS is one of 258 campuses in 38 states to be named to the list. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2022 elections and in the coming years.

In order to earn the designation, UIS created a campus action plan to identify ways to increase voter education, voter registration and voter turnout on campus.

“At UIS, we are committed to ensuring our students are equipped with the information and tools they need to register and vote,” said Jill Hawkins-Wright, director of the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center. “We are proud to be recognized for the hard work and accomplishments we have achieved to increase democratic engagement on our campus.”

The mission of the 2023 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster college and university efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process – every year, not just during years featuring federal elections.

“UIS has made a strong statement about our civic mission to prepare students to be engaged participants in our democracy and is eager to continue engaging students through 2023, 2024 and beyond,” Hawkins said.

The institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural and urban campuses, collectively serving over 3.5 million students.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession. They provide high-quality professional development, advocacy and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and 8 U.S. territories.

Fair Elections Center is a national, nonpartisan voting rights and legal support organization that works to eliminate barriers to voting and improve election administration across the United States. Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting and helps campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote.