Though students had yet to return to campus, WashU’s on-campus polling place saw nearly double the voter turnout in the Missouri Primary Election this month, compared to April’s Municipal Election.
Though the two elections are very different in scope, races and initiatives, the steady turnout at the WashU polling place, hosted by the Gephardt Institute and the St. Louis County Board of Elections, was a welcome sight for the university.
“Exercising your right to vote is one of the most powerful ways to shape our shared future,” said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, after casting his ballot on campus on Aug. 6. “By offering on-campus voting, we’re making it easier than ever for students—and chancellors!—to engage in the democratic process and have their voices heard.”
WashU is no stranger to hosting an on-campus polling place for federal elections, but it was the first year for Municipal and Primary Elections.
Missouri municipal elections were held April 2, and the on-campus polling place saw more than enough voter turnout such that the Gephardt Institute was also able to offer an on-campus polling place this month for Aug. 6’s Missouri Primary Election.
The polling place for the primary was located centrally in the Danforth University Center. St. Louis County voters from any precinct could cast their votes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m
“Hosting polling places for municipal and primary elections draws attention to local races, party politics, and state-level ballot initiatives that might not otherwise get attention in the national news cycle or on social media,” said Alannah Glickman, Associate Director for Civic Engagement at the Gephardt Institute.
“Being reminded of these elections, and the opportunity to participate in them, supports members of the WashU campus community in learning more about local and state issues, which we hope leads to thoughtful connections with and support for local organizations that are already working on issues that voters care about.”
“Campus polling places are convenient—not just for students, but also for faculty, staff, contract workers, and neighbors,” added Stephanie Kurtzman, Executive Director of the Gephardt Institute. “Our goal is to encourage voting in all elections, and hosting a polling place on campus is one of the ways we reduce barriers to voting.”
Voters echoed this sentiment of convenience, with one telling Gephardt staff that the location on campus “makes it easier for us,” and others praising the location for being the closest polling place to them.
The turnout numbers reflect these exclamations, with 433 St. Louis County residents voting on campus in the Primary Election, a 97% increase from the 220 citizens who voted in the April Municipal Election.
Voters represented precincts as far north as Florissant and Lewis and Clark, as far south as Mehville and Fenton, and as far west as Wildwood and Ballwin, demonstrating the convenience of this central location to members of the WashU community, who live throughout St. Louis County.
Having a polling place on campus increases the visibility of and access to important local and state elections, distributes voters among more polling places (thereby reducing waiting time to vote), and contributes to building a campus culture of civic engagement.
“The right to vote is precious, and the process of voting for our leaders and on decisions that affect our shared future is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Kurtzman. “Bringing this process to the heart of our campus brings democracy to the heart of our campus—in a way that we hope elevates the significance of the electoral process.”