JMU earns recognition for student voting initiatives

James Madison University has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The initiative recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation.  

JMU joins a group of 471 colleges and universities recognized by ALL IN for completing four core actions: 

• Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. 
• Sharing 2022 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN. 
• Developing and submitting a 2024 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN. 
• Having a current signatory to ALL IN’s Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation. 

“This honor represents a campus-wide, team approach to both create and sustain a culture of excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement,” said JMU President Charlie King. “I congratulate our faculty, staff and students, as well as the Madison Center, on their continued efforts to engage in conversations and actions that cultivate the common good in our democracy,” added King.  

The James Madison Center for Civic Engagement spearheaded numerous election year events and dialogue programs designed to provide students with resources and information to be both informed and proactive participants in the democratic process.  

“These events and activities allow our students to go beyond the voting booth and positively engage with their fellow students, faculty, staff and the community throughout the year,” said Dr. Kara Dillard, interim executive director for the Madison Center. “Programs such as Dukes Vote, Common Good Conversations and the Better Conversations Together paired storytelling and deliberative discussions are just a few ways we encourage our students to get involved and stay involved in their democracy,” said Dillard.