From November 20 to 22, the University of Maryland hosted the Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition’s 2024 National Student Vote Summit, a three-day event dedicated to enhancing nonpartisan student voter engagement. Sponsored by the Maryland Democracy Initiative (MDI), TerpsVote, UMD, VoteRiders and more, the annual summit brought together over 300 participants from across the nation, including 200 college students representing 35 states and Washington, D.C.
"We are proud to partner with TerpsVote and the SLSV Coalition to convene such a dedicated and diverse group of students, scholars and practitioners committed to increasing nonpartisan college student voter engagement. The National Student Vote Summit is an incredible opportunity to energize our efforts and share innovative strategies and high-impact practices to help college students make their voices heard in our shared democracy," said Lena Morreale Scott, principal investigator (PI) for MDI.
MDI is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary program that combines expertise from the College of Education, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Philip Merrill College of Journalism and the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. MDI focuses on improving voting access, educating students about their rights and eliminating barriers to voter participation. Through advocacy and outreach across Maryland, MDI ensures students can navigate the voting process with confidence and ease, aligning perfectly with the summit’s goals.
Twenty-one students from UMD, sponsored by MDI, participated in the event, which featured a range of panels, workshops and discussions aimed at equipping student leaders with tools to drive civic engagement on their campuses.
The summit featured a Democracy Heroes panel moderated by Maryland Secretary of Service and Civic Innovation D. Paul Monteiro Jr. Panelists included SLSV Coalition Co-Founder Clarissa Unger, Howard University Organizer David Ledbetter and VoteRiders CEO and Executive Director Lauren Kunis. They shared personal experiences and strategies to empower young leaders in sustaining civic engagement on campuses nationwide.
Mason Hill ’25, a VoteRiders intern and a government and politics major and sustainability studies minor at UMD, emphasized the importance of grassroots advocacy, stating, “One of my goals is to have the courage to bring civic engagement up in casual conversation, even with people I would usually be wary of talking politics with.”
A key discussion at the summit addressed the challenge of student apathy in voting. Despite increased efforts in voter engagement, student turnout in 2024 did not surpass previous records. Attendees explored strategies to combat this trend, focusing on education and sustained engagement to motivate students to participate in the democratic process.
The event concluded with the 2024 SLSV Awards, recognizing 12 coalition partners for their outstanding contributions to the StudentVote movement. The ceremony celebrated excellence in collaboration, equity and innovation, inspiring attendees to continue driving progress in their communities.
Reflecting on the summit’s impact, Unger stated, “The 2024 National Student Vote Summit showcased a national movement’s strength, as well as its community. The hundreds of participants who came together not only learned, shared and connected, but also laid the groundwork for the future of nonpartisan student voter engagement in 2025 and beyond.”
UMD’s delegation left the summit inspired to advance their mission of fostering a culture of civic engagement and making voting accessible for all students. Anna Moitoza ’26, a public policy major, shared her inspiration from “being with so many people from all walks of life who, together, cared about civic engagement and advocacy for voting.” She emphasized that the summit reminded her of the importance of continuing the conversation about civic engagement, even beyond election years. Looking ahead, she plans to deepen her involvement by further educating herself about civic engagement and volunteering as a poll worker in the next Maryland election.
