During the 2020 election, the opportunity for every American to vote in a free and fair election was at risk. Because of COVID-19, the older Americans who typically carry most of the burden of keeping our polling places open had to stay home to protect their health. The resulting shortage of poll workers could have meant closed polling places and long delays in communities across the country.
Safe Elections Project
Through the Campus Compact Safe Elections Project, students stepped up. Campus Compact enlisted and trained Student Recruiters who went on to enlist over 4,700 of their fellow students to serve as poll workers for the November 2020 election. Student Recruiters were trained to be effective digital organizers and educators about the importance of poll workers for our democracy. Campus Compact was proud to partner with Power the Polls to recruit a new wave of poll workers to ensure a safe, secure, healthy, and fair election for all.
How You Helped
Learn more about some steps campus leaders took to help ensure a safe and fair election this November.
Learn more about Campus Compact’s Safe Elections Project and the critical role students can play in ensuring a safe, fair, and accessible election. Hear more about encouraging student participation, helping to enlist them as poll workers, and advocating for institutional policies that support students who take on this vital role.
A statement from the Campus Compact Board of Directors:
In support of efforts across the United States to address the critical shortage of poll workers in the face of COVID-19, the Campus Compact Board of Directors calls upon every college and university to enact policies identifying service as a poll worker as a legitimate reason for students to be absent from class on primary and general election days in the fall of 2020.
Want to find out more?
This informational webinar offers more details about the program, including an introduction to the importance of poll workers for safe elections, requirements for student recruiters, and more details about how you can get involved.
Campus Compact takes the public safety risks associated with in-person elections during COVID seriously and encourages all poll workers to take responsibility to ensure they have proper PPE while serving. For questions and concerns related to coronavirus and serving as a poll worker, please contact your local elections office. Campus Compact is not liable for the health or safety of poll workers who sign up via the Safe Elections Project.
