New Developments in Student Voting Data: A Shifting Landscape
As the dust settles from the 2022 midterm elections, college campuses in the United States have seen a notable shift in student voting patterns. The gap in voter turnout between community colleges and public four-year institutions has significantly narrowed, with a reduction from a 9 percentage point difference in 2020 to just 3 points in 2022.
Clarissa Unger, executive director of the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, noted, “This told us that we needed to be doing more to support community colleges in their efforts to engage their students.”
Despite these promising developments, the release of crucial data from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) has been paused. The National Student Clearinghouse, a vital partner providing student information for NSLVE reports, has withdrawn from the study following an investigation initiated by the Trump administration’s Department of Education.
The investigation, which began in February, was described by Trump officials as a measure to “protect” election integrity, citing alleged violations of federal student data privacy laws. However, privacy experts and institutions involved in the study dispute these claims.
The Investigation’s Impact on Student Voting Efforts
The halted data release has left over 1,000 participating colleges and universities without updated information to guide efforts in boosting student voter turnout. This is particularly concerning as student voting advocates strive to engage the demographic least likely to vote.
Heather Honey, a right-wing election activist, criticized the NSLVE study for purportedly violating privacy laws. She later became the deputy assistant secretary for elections integrity at the Department of Homeland Security. Mitchell, a Republican election lawyer, claimed that activism by Honey and others influenced the National Student Clearinghouse’s decision to cease its involvement with NSLVE.
Meanwhile, the America First Policy Institute, a think tank founded by former Trump administration officials, also expressed satisfaction with the development, emphasizing the protection of student data.
Challenges for Colleges and Student Voting Initiatives
The Education Department issued a guidance letter advising institutions to refrain from using NSLVE data until the investigation concludes, mentioning potential consequences for privacy law violations. Amanda Fuchs Miller, a former Biden administration official, described this as a “scare tactic,” potentially discouraging schools from participating in the study due to fears of losing federal funding.
Amelia Vance, a student data privacy expert, noted the unusual public nature of the investigation and speculated that the department might find ways to allow the study to continue, given its discretion in enforcing privacy laws.
Melissa Michelson, dean at Menlo College, expressed concerns about the impact on civic engagement efforts, emphasizing the importance of data in improving student voter turnout strategies.
Previous Challenges Under the Trump Administration
Colleges have faced challenges interpreting guidance from the Trump administration regarding student voter registration. A letter from the Education Department in August suggested limiting the distribution of voter registration forms and prohibited using federal work-study funds for voter registration activities, causing confusion among institutions.
Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Cory Booker, have urged the department to reconsider this guidance, highlighting the role of higher education institutions in promoting voter registration.
Edited by Benjamin Swasey
