NAICU Issue Brief: Political Activity on Campus
Colleges and universities are natural places for political discourse and activity. As such, there are laws, rules, and regulations that provide guidance parameters to colleges about what they can and cannot do on campus during elections. The Higher Education Act, Internal Revenue Service, and Federal Election Commission all have guidelines directing institutions of higher education on what they must do and what activities institutions may or may not engage in while maintaining their non-profit 501 (c)(3) status.
Campus Vote Project
A collection of media, communications, and other engagement tools to help you reach your campus community easily.
Student Voting and College Political Campaign Activities (2024)
Published by the American Council on Education (ACE), this issue brief focuses on the institutional opportunities and obligations to encourage and enable student voting and attentiveness to campus political campaign–related activities. It offers illustrative examples of what is likely to be permissible and impermissible. It does not seek to address other issues, such as freedom of speech and civility.
Web Resources
The following organizations offer resources on elections, politics, and voter registration and education.
Vote.gov is the official U.S. government website that helps eligible voters find accurate, state-specific information on how to register and vote. It’s a nonpartisan resource available in multiple languages, designed to make the voting process easy and accessible for everyone.
National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrated every September to encourage participation in our democracy. It’s the perfect time to check your registration status, update your info, or get registered if you haven’t already.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration. The EAC also maintains the national mail voter registration form developed in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
U.S. Vote Foundation provides information for students on voter registration services and details on how to request absentee ballots for all states across the national and around the globe.
CanIVote.org is a nonpartisan initiative through the National Association of Secretaries of State to help eligible voters figure out how and where to vote.
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) provides data on the civic and political participation of young Americans, including the voting patterns of youth and of college students specifically.
League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization established in 1920 to improve the U.S. systems of government and impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy.
Overseas Vote Foundation is for faculty and students who will be out of the country during elections. It offers detailed information and easy-to-use tools for registering to vote and receiving an absentee ballot overseas.
Project Vote Smart has state voter registration information, bios and voting records for members of Congress, and more.
Webinar: Preparing Your Campus for Elections (June 20, 2024)
A webinar offering practical guidance on navigating key issues related to civic engagement on campus—from the do’s and don’ts of required voter registration and access procedures to best practices for managing political expression and student involvement.
Moderator:
Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A., President, NAICU
Speakers:
Joel Buckman, Partner, Hogan Lovells
Leslie Reynolds, Executive Director, National Association of Secretaries of State
Teresa Valerio Parrot, Principal, TVP Communications