Nov. 5 marked the 60th presidential election in United States history, and between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., a record-setting nearly 2,100 voters flocked to WashU’s on-campus polling places to cast their ballots.
“Our voter turnout on the Danforth Campus was the highest in WashU history. The vast majority of these voters were students,” said Stephanie Kurtzman, Executive Director of the Gephardt Institute.
The 2024 General Election marked the first time that WashU and the Gephardt institute hosted two on-campus polling places. When the polls closed, 1,479 St, Louis County voters cast ballots in the Athletic Complex, while 486 St. Louis City voters cast ballots at the School of Medicine campus. A total of 131 provisional ballots were cast between the two polling places.
“We also know that many students voted absentee or early, whether in Missouri or in their home states,” said Kurtzman. “We’re proud that our students are actively engaging in civic life—not just at the ballot box but throughout the year as they commit to the habits of engaged citizenship—including following and discussing the news, engaging with elected officials, and participating in civic and community initiatives to advance their civic goals.”
The turnout followed strong traffic to the WashU TurboVote voter registration portal that facilitates voter registration, confirmations, and reminders for voters in all 50 states and DC. Since Jan. 1, 2024, 3,415 people used the portal; 2,386 sought to register to vote through it, while another 1,217 checked their voter registration. Countless others were already registered to vote or registered directly through their state’s procedures.
The data reflects the growing importance of having an on-campus voting place. In the 2018 and 2022 Midterms, 995 and 949 votes respectively were cast on Danforth Campus; in the 2020 General Election, 995 votes were cast on campus.
“Our campus polling places are, first and foremost, convenient for students who live on or near campus and who learn on campus. This facilitates the ease of access to voting that would be more complicated for students without transportation or with limited time to navigate to off-campus polling places,” said Kurtzman.
People have fought and died for this right, it’s important to exercise it. It’s an individual act, but it’s part of a larger history of democratic expression.”
Will Armstrong ’25
First-time voters Mason Klein ’28 and Shriya Koneru ’25 echoed this sentiment of convenience.
“It’s great to have a polling place on campus. I know a lot of people voting because of the convenience,” said Klein, a volunteer with WashU Votes and first-time voter in a presidential election. “The lines were a challenge though. I was late to class because of polling.”
Although wait times at the Medical Campus were negligible, at peak times, St. Louis County voters in the Athletic Complex polling place waited more than an hour. At 6 a.m. sharp, an estimated 86 voters entered the Athletic Complex; after the steady crowd throughout most of the day, the line shortened after 5 p.m.
“It was super convenient being able to go right after class, and the line was actually pretty short for me in the evening,” said Koneru. “It’s also nice to not have to worry about transportation, and the atmosphere around the polling place was fun with other students around me excited about voting.”
In addition to convenience, an on-campus polling place provides a space for the community to come together in exercising the right to vote, cultivating a sense of pride and connection.
Otto Brown, Civic Engagement Manager at the Gephardt Institute, said that providing this space is a key part of building a culture of civic engagement and strengthening the fabric of our democracy.
“It also enhances the idea of lifelong, engaged citizenship; when more people participate in our democracy, the stronger it is,” he said.
Waiting in line to vote, Will Armstrong ‘25, a first-time voter in a presidential election and a Goldman Fellow in the St. Louis Fellows Program, reflected on the people around them, commenting on how the line was comprised of both students and community members.
They also reflected on the research they completed before coming to vote, expressing how important it is to make informed decisions.
“There are a lot of ways to make voices heard in civic change, and this is one of them,” said Armstrong. “People have fought and died for this right, it’s important to exercise it. It’s an individual act, but it’s part of a larger history of democratic expression.”
Outside of the polling place on the Danforth Campus, the Gephardt Institute’s Party at the Polls, a celebration of democracy for all voters and non-voters, featured free food, games, music, and student performances by WU Sauce and the WashU/STL Juggling Club.
Some of the activities were limited by the day’s consistent rainfall, but students were in good spirits as they participated in activities and picked up a student-designed “I Voted” sticker.
“Even for students who aren’t voting here, having an on-campus polling location and an event like Party at the Polls is a reminder of the democratic process and the importance of engaging with elections,” said Amelia Letson ’25, WashU Votes co-chair. “Good civic habits are formed during college, and events like this contribute to this.”
“Students remain eager to make their voices heard— through voting, advocacy, and activism. We saw that on Election Day with our record-breaking on-campus turnout,” said Brown. “Our aim is to keep up this energy and enthusiasm and provide students with additional tools for civic action that they can pilot, refine, and use throughout their lives. That work is always ongoing, and we will be uplifting more student opportunities for engagement in the weeks and months to come.”