Students walk past a polling site at the University of Pittsburgh during the 2022 midterm election in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
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Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
College campuses in the U.S. saw a notable shift in voter turnout patterns following the 2022 midterm elections.
Community college students showed an increase in voter participation, almost reaching the levels of their peers at public four-year colleges. Previously, there was a 9% gap in the 2020 elections, which reduced to 3% in 2022.
“This told us that we needed to be doing more to support community colleges in their efforts to engage their students,” stated Clarissa Unger, executive director of the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, a nonpartisan group aiming to enhance civic participation on campuses.
She further commented, “We would love to be able to see the 2024 data to see if those extra efforts to support community colleges did help [fully] close that gap.”
Unfortunately, access to this data is currently unavailable.
In March, Tufts University researchers announced a halt on releasing data from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), a primary source for student voter registration and turnout statistics. This came after the National Student Clearinghouse withdrew from the study, ending a partnership that lasted over a decade.
The decision follows an investigation initiated by the Trump administration’s Education Department, touted as a measure to “protect” U.S. election integrity based on unspecified allegations of privacy law violations by NSLVE.
Right-Wing Activism Sparks Education Department Investigation
The Education Department has yet to specify the origin of the “multiple reports” accusing NSLVE of illegally sharing student data to influence elections.
Despite this, Cleta Mitchell, a Republican election lawyer known for her involvement in attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, shared insights during a virtual meeting with right-wing activists.
Mitchell revealed that in 2023, Heather Honey, another activist, posted a document online accusing NSLVE of potentially breaching the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act through data-sharing practices. The document also questioned Catalist, a data firm aligned with Democrats that previously collaborated with NSLVE.
Tufts University has consistently maintained that its study complies with privacy laws.
Honey, now the deputy assistant secretary for elections integrity at the Department of Homeland Security, has not commented on the investigation.
Mitchell described the National Student Clearinghouse’s decision to exit the study as a result of Honey’s activism, calling it “a real victory lap.”
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Honey has not been involved in the Education Department’s investigation, and her 2023 report remains publicly accessible.
Colleges Face Dilemmas Over Promoting Student Voting
In February, the Education Department issued guidance to colleges and universities, advising against using NSLVE data until the investigation concludes. This directive warned of possible enforcement actions against institutions found in violation of privacy laws, including potential withdrawal of federal funds.
Amanda Fuchs Miller, a former deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs, criticized the guidance as a “scare tactic,” especially towards smaller, under-resourced institutions lacking legal expertise.
Amelia Vance, a student data privacy expert, noted that previous administrations typically avoided publicizing data privacy investigations to encourage quicker compliance from schools.
While some institutions may continue to mobilize student voters, they will have to rely on outdated data, complicating efforts to enhance civic engagement effectively.
Melissa Michelson, dean of arts and sciences at Menlo College, emphasized the importance of financial responsibility over participating in NSLVE, given the risk of losing federal aid.
She expressed concern that without current data, schools might struggle to refine strategies to improve voter turnout in future elections.
Historical Challenges with Voting Guidance Under Trump Administration
Previous guidance from the Trump administration on student voter registration has already caused confusion among college administrators.
Last August, the Education Department issued a letter allowing schools to limit recipients of mail voter registration forms to avoid voter fraud, diverging from federal laws encouraging widespread distribution.
The department also prohibited using federal work-study funds for voter registration activities, contradicting its own Federal Student Aid Handbook.
This guidance has prompted a group of Senate Democrats to urge the department to reconsider, arguing that it undermines efforts to promote voting as a key public interest function of higher education institutions.
Edited by Benjamin Swasey
