East Michigan News

Central Michigan University and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) have announced that Matthew Thomas has been recognized as part of the 2024 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. The honor roll awards college students for their efforts in advancing nonpartisan democratic engagement at participating campuses. Thomas joins a group of 137 students recognized for their voter registration, education, and turnout efforts in their communities.

“Young people make up one of the largest voting demographics in the country but have the lowest voting rates,” said Thomas, a recent graduate from CMU. “If students made their voices heard, they would have the power to make lasting change.”

Thomas is the second CMU student in two years to be named to the ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. A recent survey from CIRCLE showed that 86% of under-35 youth who voted in 2022 and 72% of those who voted in 2020 consider themselves extremely likely to vote in 2024. ALL IN recognizes that colleges and universities play an important role in encouraging young voter turnout.

“Whether it’s a presidential election year or one with critical state and local races on the ballot, students have a powerful role to play in fostering active and engaged campuses and getting their peers to participate in our democracy. Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is honored to celebrate 137 student leaders who model nonpartisan democratic engagement,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, Executive Director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “These honorees hosted candidate information sessions, created guides on polling location accessibility, registered their peers to vote and so much more. We know these students will continue to make a difference in our democracy.”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. With support from ALL IN staff, participating campuses complete action items designed to institutionalize civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation on campus. The initiative currently engages more than 10 million students from over 1,000 institutions across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

ALL IN believes higher education should play a role in developing an active and informed citizenry by educating students about American democracy, motivating them to engage politically, and instilling lifelong participation values. As an initiative of Civic Nation, a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3), ALL IN continues its mission through structured programs providing support and recognition.