Boosting student engagement: ARU champions voter registration

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ARU is transforming campus life with a push for increased voter registration, spearheaded by student leader Kate Baker during Voter Registration Week.

Voter Registration Champion graphic

Collaborative efforts

In partnership with local Electoral Offices, ARU brought polling booths, ballot boxes, and voting slips to all three campuses. This initiative involved ARU Changemakers, Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE), and Citizens UK working together to boost student engagement.

Programme development

SHoKE students identified reasons for voting non-engagement and proposed solutions. ARU Changemakers and Citizens UK implemented these solutions through awareness-raising events on the Chelmsford and Cambridge campuses, collaborating with City Council election teams.

Positive results

These efforts led to 125 previously unregistered students registering to vote. The Cambridge City Election Team noted a significant uptick in registration applications in areas where ARU students reside, calling it a “really positive” outcome.

Engagement and community

City election officials welcomed the chance to interact with students on campus, emphasising inclusivity and civic engagement. The renewed campus atmosphere now reflects a strong sense of community and purpose as students recognise the power of their voice and vote.

ARU’s voter registration initiative has successfully engaged students and fostered a deeper sense of civic responsibility and community on campus.

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