Pictured: Satellite voting location on Drake’s campus in 2016.
Two student-led organizations—Drake College Republicans and Drake Democrats—worked hand-in-hand to gain enough signatures on campus to secure a satellite voting location on October 18 at Drake’s Knapp Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The two student organizations have successfully arranged a similar voting location every election cycle since 2008.
Voters in precincts 14, 15, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 37 will have pre-printed ballots available at this satellite voting location. Any registered voter in Polk County may participate at this location and all Polk County precincts and ballot styles will be available for voters who need assistance marking a ballot using the Open Elect Marking Devices. It is not necessary to request an absentee ballot to participate in early voting; voters can simply show up at a satellite voting location and submit their vote. Individuals may also register to vote at the satellite voting location provided they have the required proof of identification and residence.
Leaders of the Drake College Republicans and Drake Democrats issued a joint statement:
“Drake College Republicans and Drake Democrats are proud to have worked together to make voting easier and more accessible on Drake University’s campus. Securing a satellite voting location reflects our commitment to encouraging voter participation, creating a culture of political engagement, and fostering civic conversations among students. While we may differ in political beliefs, our organizations believe that it is important for the next generation of voters to develop their plan to vote in 2024 and every election going forward.”
Pictured: Dylan Engelbrecht, president of Drake College Republicans (left), at the Jan. 2024 CNN GOP primary presidential debate on Drake’s campus. Raya Hoppe, a Public Democracy Scholar and member of Drake Democrats (right), speaking at an Oct. 2024 celebration event for The Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy. Dylan and Raya worked hand-in-hand to secure enough signatures to make the satellite voting location possible at the Knapp Center.
Drake University was also recently recognized for excellence in student voter registration and turnout as part of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The challenge celebrates nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts that fostered high levels of student voter engagement in the 2022 midterm elections. Under the program, Drake University also earned a Gold Seal for Campus Voter Turnout, meaning that 40-49% of students voted in the 2022 midterms. This continues the trend, as Drake was previously recognized for 80.4% student voter turnout in the 2020 general election, which far surpasses the 66% national average.
“We are incredibly proud to have a long legacy of active and informed student participation in the democratic process,” said Rachel Paine Caufield, co-executive director at Drake University’s Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy. “Working with the next generation of leaders, encouraging thoughtful consideration of issues, and facilitating participation by new voters is all part of our commitment to a healthy and vibrant democracy.”
To learn more about Drake University and what it has to offer students interested in political science, visit https://www.drake.edu/polsci/.