Baylor’s Academy for Leadership Development’s Voting Initiative Gets Voters to the Polls

Media Contact: Tonya Hudson, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-3321
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by Cerenity Austin, student newswriter, Baylor University Media and Public Relations

WACO, Texas (Oct. 20, 2020) — Baylor University joined more than 160 universities in the “All IN Campus Democracy Challenge” to push for 100% student voter registration and participation. The Baylor Academy for Leadership Development (ALD) has incorporated students into a voting initiative with student-led charges to the polls each Tuesday of early voting.

The initiative began with campus-wide student registration assistance, but Baylor now faces the biggest challenge in this initiative—getting students to the polls.

Mito Diaz-Espinoza, Ph.D., associate director for civic learning initiatives, said according to data from the Tufts University NSLVE (National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement), more than 80% of students register to vote, while only about 30% of students vote.

“In a broad sense, we want to create a culture of voting,” Diaz-Espinoza said. “Not just during presidential years, but we want students to be civically engaged every year. Our mission at Baylor, in part, is to prepare students for worldwide leadership and service, and to do that, we believe that getting engaged in voting better fulfills the mission.”

Baylor is partnered with the Andrew Goodman Foundation and its Vote Everywhere program, a civic engagement movement of student leaders and university partners, which includes campus organizations such as Baylor NAACP and Baylor Young Democrats and Republicans in the initiative.

Diaz-Espinoza said students have hosted events such as voter registration drives, engaging with their student organizations and membership and sharing their participation with their circles of influence.

The student-led charge to the polls kicked off on the first day of early registration Tuesday, Oct. 13, with Baylor Athletics, and it will continue through to elections Nov. 3 with different organizations.

In addition, Baylor and the Waco Transit System also provide transportation to get voters to the nearest booths:

The voting center location is McLennan County Elections Administration Office, Records Building (basement) 214, North Fourth St., Suite 300.

The ALD will encourage voting on its Instagram account @Baylor.lead.serve and students and organizations can use #BearsVOTE and #WacoTransit on social media posts.

“First and foremost, participate in the voting process and for those able to vote, be educated voters not just this election but every election,” Diaz-Espinosa said. “And for those that are not able to vote, encourage others, learn about the process and share the information with others.”

The initiative is made possible by several student organizations including Texas Rising, Baylor Ambassadors, Baylor’s NAACP chapter, Student Government, Baylor Democrats and Baylor Republicans.

Campus departments such as the Office of General Counsel, Athletics, Campus Living and Learning, Multicultural Affairs, Office of Spiritual Life, Baylor Libraries, Media and Communications, the office of Admissions and Visit Experience, as well as community groups, League of Women Voters, Hispanic Leaders Network and the City of Waco, contributed to the effort.

ABOUT THE BAYLOR ACADEMY FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The Academy for Leadership Development was established in 2004 by the Division of Student Life at Baylor University to create a common place where diverse individuals studying, researching or practicing leadership in the context of a Christian worldview will benefit from collaboration. The purpose of fostering greater synergy among "leadership thinkers" is guided by an aspiration to provide a meaningful forum for talented Baylor students to develop their strengths in preparation for answering a call to sustained leadership in whatever their chosen vocations, whether they be service in public life, private enterprise, social issues, or the Church.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 18,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.