Simpson Designated a Voter-Friendly Campus

Simpson College was recently named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of 272 campuses in 39 states and the District of Columbia, by the Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices encouraging students to register and vote.

The mission of the 2025 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges’ and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process – every year, not just during years featuring federal elections. Simpson was evaluated based on a written plan to register, educate and turn out student voters in 2024; how the college facilitated voter engagement efforts on campus; and a final analysis of those efforts.

“Simpson College has a long, proud history of civic and political engagement and a mission-driven commitment to promoting student voting,” said President Jay Byers. “The Voter Friendly Campus program provides a wonderful opportunity to express Simpson’s commitments and values nationally.”

As part of its effort to be designated a Voter Friendly Campus, Simpson offered voter registration and civic engagement presentations to all Foundations I first-year seminar classes, partnered with the Warren County auditor’s office to host a satellite polling place on campus, and adjusted its class schedule on Election Day to give students, faculty and staff two hours over lunch to vote in person.

Simpson has made intensive efforts to inform students of their civic duty and prepare them to be engaged participants in democracy. The college is eager to continue refining its tactics, expanding efforts and engaging students through 2025 and beyond.

The institutions designated as Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural and urban campuses, collectively serving more than 4 million students. Notably, the list includes 13 historically Black colleges and universities, as well as 47 community colleges.

Simpson has made intensive efforts to inform students of their civic duty and prepare them to be engaged participants in our democracy. We are eager to continue refining our tactics, expanding our efforts, and engaging students through 2025 and beyond.

The institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses, collectively serving over four million students. Notably, the list of designated institutions includes 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as 47 Community Colleges.