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The first objective in the Promote Democracy initiative of the Universitys strategic plan, Carolina Next, is to Actively engage as diverse citizens responsible for the institutions of American democracy. Staff, faculty and students are doing that through Carolina Votes, a robust effort to coordinate with campus partners on voter registration and voter education.

Sam Hiner, a sophomore public policy major, leads voter engagement activities on campus as a member of the student-led Civic Engagement Working Group. Until a few months ago, Hiner wondered: Where can I see Carolinas commitment to voter engagement?

He and other students were pleased to learn that the commitment has top billing in Carolina Next. They and others are turning the commitment into action through the Universitys increasing activities and programs to register and educate voters.

Promote Democracy begins with a focus on students: As a leading global, public research university, we play a key role in the exchange of ideas and the education of informed citizens. That portion ends by confirming Carolinas pledge to support and improve democratic citizenship in the state, the nation and around the globe.

In September, the Promote Democracy Initiative and the Carolina Center for Public Service held a training session for student volunteers on registering new voters on campus. After the session, trainer Jarrod Horsey of You Can Vote talks with volunteers Grace North, Amanda Leder and Grace Parker as Ryan Nilsen, a co-lead on the Carolina Votes effort, looks on. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

The 18-24 age group has traditionally had the lowest rates of voter turnout and engagement in the democratic process. A goal of the Carolina Votes initiative is to provide the Carolina community with the tools they need to be informed and engaged participants in American democracy, said Jason Roberts, the Promote Democracy captain and a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences political science department.

Carolina Votes co-leads are Ryan Nilsen, senior program officer for community engagement at the Carolina Center for Public Service, and Bobby Kunstman, the Carolina Unions director of student life and leadership. They convene a group of administrators and faculty focused on election engagement, Nilsen said.

Historically, with UNCs strong emphasis on student leadership, student activists and student governance, students drove a lot of the voter registration and engagement work. In recent years, different offices around campus have seen how that falls short at points and have started to take more aspects of that on within their purview, Nilsen said. The benefit of Carolina Next specifically naming it as a priority gives us a reason to meet regularly and organize so that we arent doing the same things in different places or leaving big holes.

Hiner said that the initiative has been a great way to energize students before voter registration closes Oct. 14 for Nov. 8 statewide general elections. After Oct. 14, only same-day registration is available during the early voting period.

Carolina Votes is leveraging all sorts of efforts, including:

We were surprised and excited to see the Promote Democracy initiative in Carolina Next as an entire pillar, said Hiner, who is executive director of the North Carolina Young Peoples Alliance, a nonprofit with teams working at universities across North Carolina to mobilize students and build youth power. It serves as a beacon for students at the University and beyond to show this is something we care about and, even if things move slowly at times, its a North Star that helps us be more effective.

How to vote: Students registered at an on-campus address may vote on election day at the Stone Center. Students who wish to register and vote in Orange County may use the early voting site at the Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St.

Learn how staff, faculty and students are turning the words of Carolina Next into reality at TheWell.UNC.edu

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Promoting democracy critical to Carolina's mission | UNC-Chapel Hill - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill