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Bowdoin Votes

Faculty & Staff

Educating Students for Democracy

Preparing students for active citizenship is part of Bowdoin’s mission, and any staff or faculty member who works with students can make a difference. Here are some simple tactics:
  • Ask students about their plan to vote (where/how/when, and deadlines). Invite ineligible students to mobilize voters through the love vote.
  • Ask students how they are participating in democracy, beyond voting. Following up on the question,
    • If they express ambivalence, remind them that their voice/vote/involvement can make a difference (eg close elections, local needs to make democracy work)
    • If they are unsure how to proceed, we are happy to answer questions via email.

For faculty, here are some tactics specific to the classroom:

  • Early in the semester:
    • Put Election Day and/or other election info on your syllabus calendar (see syllabus samples)
    • Discuss your attendance policy for election day – what if students need to vote in person? Or want to be a poll worker?
    • Add our quick Fall 2021 voter info slides to one of your lectures.
    • Show a tiny motivating video (1:23)
  • Any time during the semester:
    • Have students write about/discuss the public relevance of your discipline and the course topic – see link below for discipline-specific ideas.
    • Talk about elections in class (guidance).
  • This calendar of Electoral Engagement Moments, for your courses and advising, follows the arc of a fall election season.
  • Of course there is more! Here are our favorite resources to help you promote civic learning and participation.

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