By Maya Schaefer

[Photo courtesy of Radio Raheem, 2010]

It’s been around six weeks (at the time of writing) since the 2024 presidential election took place, and there’s still a lot to unpack. One feature I’ve always been interested in was voter registration, especially on Denison’s campus. I’m still impressed by the stats that DU Votes generates and their history of accolades, notably, the Standout Nonpartisan Campus Student Voting Group in 2023 and Denison as a whole being recognized as a Most Engaged Campus. In a stark contrast to Denison’s voter registration abilities, a new law in Florida has put in place strict limits on third-party organizations, including student groups, that try to register new voters. The organizations can be fined up to $250,000 for violating the various restrictions.

In September 2024, Vote.org announced it had registered over one million voters in the 2024 election cycle. This included a record number of younger voters under 35 compared to the 2020 election. As the largest nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote platform in America, Vote.org has been critical in mobilizing young voters and “converting registrations to votes” (Vote.org). I’m curious to see if Denison students reflect some of the trends we’re seeing in voter registration across the country.

In 127’s most recent survey, we asked Denisonians whether they were registered to vote and if they had changed or updated their voter registration since coming to campus. 26% of students reported that they were registered to vote in Granville, while 58% reported being registered at home (which could still mean Ohio). Only 4% reported being citizens who were not registered to vote.

When asked whether they had changed or updated their voter registration since coming to campus, nearly 60% reported not having updated their registration, compared to the 40% who had. These numbers could reflect some of the changes seen in voter registration in Ohio, specifically. In recent months, aspects of Ohio’s election and voting processes have been cause for some frustration for voting rights advocates. In August 2024, the Ohio state elections chief announced the removal of 155,000 inactive and out-of-date voter registrations from the state’s voter rolls. Voting rights advocates have pushed for better management of Ohio’s voter rolls, including the adoption of automatic voter registration to increase transparency regarding removals. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose also received criticism for pulling Ohio out of the Election Registration Information Center (ERIC), an interstate program that helps states maintain accurate rolls. A lack of awareness surrounding the requirements for active voter registration is a key concern for voters across the country and especially in Ohio as stricter legislation is enacted that can make voting more difficult.

Denison’s strong voter registration efforts stand out amid a shifting national landscape where voting rights and registration processes face increasing challenges. While Denison students show great engagement, it’s hard not to notice the contrast with states like Florida, where strict laws limit voter registration efforts, and Ohio, where voter rolls are being purged. As younger voters continue setting records in turnout, student-led initiatives like DU Votes play a crucial role. Ensuring that all students understand and meet evolving voter registration requirements is critical in sustaining democratic participation in future elections.

Maya Schaefer is a senior Politics and Public Affairs major with a Data for Political Research minor. She is avidly searching for post-grad opportunities to avoid being a babysitter for the rest of her life.