GVSU Votes! is a nonpartisan coalition of students, staff, faculty, and community stakeholders dedicated to increasing voter registration and turnout and fostering opportunities for dialogue and education at GVSU.

In the Summer and Fall of 2022, GVSU Votes! collaborated with the Student Senate, the Ottawa County and Allendale Township Clerks Offices, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, the Campus Vote Project, and several units across campus to register student voters, facilitate civic learning opportunities, and provide all Allendale registered voters with the opportunity to vote on campus.

Highlights of the 2022 midterm season include:

Democracy 101, a series of co-curricular lectures, panel discussions and workshops that focus on the idea and practice of democracy.

National Voter Registration Day, a registration drive and celebratory event that featured officials from the Ottawa County and Allendale Township Clerks Offices.

Laker Impact Series: “Election Day Warm-Up,” where student-athletes viewed the ESPN documentary film 144 and engaged in dialogue about civil unrest and movements toward social justice.

Allendale Township Clerk’s Satellite Office, which was open for 2 weeks leading up to the election and on Election Day. Residents of Allendale could register to vote, update their voter registration using their Allendale address and request an absentee ballot.

Election Day Celebration, in partnership with the Laker Marching Band and The Office of the President, celebrated student voting with food and music.

This showcase will be presented by Satellite Office volunteers and undergraduate students Ke'Asha Cargill and Rachel Noreen and will feature representatives from the Ottawa County and Allendale Township Clerks Offices.

Proposal authored by Dan Cope, Affiliate Faculty (IRIS) and GVSU Votes! member with assistance from Melissa Baker-Boosamra, Associate Director of Student Life for Civic Engagement & Assessment.