WashU has once more received the title of Voter Friendly Campus, being among 272 institutions across the country that have effectively adopted methods to motivate students to register and participate in elections.

This esteemed designation has been granted to WashU annually since its creation five years prior, making it one of 12 private research universities to achieve this honor.

The electoral initiatives at WashU are spearheaded by the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement alongside its student-operated voter involvement committee, WashU Votes. During the general election in November 2024, 2,096 votes were submitted on campus — a record high — alongside many more absentee votes from students in their home states. Over the course of 2024, a total of 2,758 ballots were cast on campus during municipal, primary, and general elections.

“Casting a vote is a fundamental civic duty for every eligible citizen,” stated Stephanie Kurtzman, the Peter G. Sortino Executive Director of the Gephardt Institute. “For students, especially, we aim to instill the practice of voting and ensure they carry that habit throughout their lives.”

Once again, WashU will serve as an on-campus voting site for St. Louis County electors on Tuesday, April 8, located in Room 276 of the Danforth University. Voters are required to present a photo ID issued by the state of Missouri (such as a driver’s license or state identification) or a photo ID from the U.S. government (for instance, a passport).

The article WashU named a Voter Friendly Campus originally appeared on The Source.