Campus Vote Project is a project of Fair Elections Center to increase voter participation among young adults. It advocates for eliminating voter identification requirements, increasing the number of polling locations, and expanding voter registration. ^{1 2}

Background

Campus Vote Project is a project of Fair Elections Center and was created in 2012. It campaigns to eliminate election integrity policies and increase voter participation among college students and young adults. ³

Campus Vote Project advocates for election policies that would eliminate voter identification requirements and increase registration and polling options for college students. ⁴

Advocacy

Campus Vote Project’s website has an “Advocate” webpage that is solely dedicated to its campaign in support of the Youth Voting Rights Act that was introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in the Senate and Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) in the House of Representatives. ⁵ The Youth Voting Rights Act would require public colleges to provide voter registration, require states to allow voter registration starting at the age of 16 for federal elections and give states the option to lower the pre-registration age as low as they want, and it would create a $26 million grant program dedicated to increasing voter participation among young adults. ⁶

In March 2021, Campus Vote Project released a statement announcing its endorsement of the For the People Act. The Act specifically advocates for the elimination of election integrity policies, requires so-called independent redistricting commissions, eliminates the constitutional right to campaign finance speech, and requires charities and political groups to disclose their donors. ⁷

In a January 2022 statement, Campus Vote Project criticizes people who advocate for an audit of the 2020 election and claim there were election integrity issues during the 2020 election. It argues people advocating for audits and election integrity motivated the riot associated with the January 6, 2021, protest at the Capitol building, stating they should be held accountable for the escalation of the protest. The statement claims any doubts about the 2020 election integrity is “dangerous mistrust.” ⁸

In a January 2023 statement, Campus Vote Project criticized the election laws of the state of Ohio as well as the election laws of several other states, advocating against election integrity laws. The statement specifically condemned Ohio’s new voter identification laws through the passing of HB 458, arguing that such policies are discriminatory against lower income individuals. ⁹

Funding

Fair Elections Center reported that it spent $2.4 million to fund the Campus Vote Project in 2020. ¹⁰

1. “Youth Voting Rights Advocates Praise Introduction of Youth Voting Rights Act.” Campus Vote Project. Campus Vote Project, July 11, 2022. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/post/youth-voting-rights-advocates-praise-introduction-of-youth-voting-rights-act.
2. “Strictest Voter ID Law in the Country Will Stifle Ohioans’ Voice at the Polls.” Campus Vote Project. Campus Vote Project, January 13, 2023. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/post/strictest-voter-id-law-in-the-country-will-stifle-ohioans-voice-at-the-polls.
3. “Campus Vote Project.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/campus-vote-project.
4. “Youth Voting Rights Advocates Praise Introduction of Youth Voting Rights Act.” Campus Vote Project. Campus Vote Project, July 11, 2022. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/post/youth-voting-rights-advocates-praise-introduction-of-youth-voting-rights-act.
5. “Advocate.” Campus Vote Project. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/advocate.
6. “Youth Voting Rights Advocates Praise Introduction of Youth Voting Rights Act.” Campus Vote Project. Campus Vote Project, July 11, 2022. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/post/youth-voting-rights-advocates-praise-introduction-of-youth-voting-rights-act.
7. “Statement Regarding the Introduction of S. 1 in the US Senate.” Campus Vote Project. Campus Vote Project, March 17, 2021. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/post/statement-regarding-the-introduction-of-s-1-in-the-us-senate.
8. “Election Reform + Democracy Leader on Anniversary of 1/6 Insurrection at Capitol.” Campus Vote Project. Campus Vote Project, January 6, 2022. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/post/election-reform-democracy-leader-on-anniversary-of-1-6-insurrection-at-capitol.
9. “Strictest Voter ID Law in the Country Will Stifle Ohioans’ Voice at the Polls.” Campus Vote Project. Campus Vote Project, January 13, 2023. https://www.campusvoteproject.org/post/strictest-voter-id-law-in-the-country-will-stifle-ohioans-voice-at-the-polls.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Fair Elections Center. 2020. Part III, Line 4a.