‘Mobile-izing’ a New Generation to the Ballot Box
Campus Pop-Up Helps Register New Voters and Take the Angst Out of Election Day
Puzzled by the polls this November? VOTE (Fearlessly)! is helping Terps make a voting plan for the General Election, from registration to how to file an absentee ballot. Amber Liang M.A. ’26 makes an election-themed button at the informational exhibit on Sept. 4.
Photos by Riley Sims Ph.D. ’23
When Amelia Twyman turned 18 last year, an unexpected birthday card arrived in her mailbox from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: an invitation to register to vote.
She eagerly filed the paperwork before moving into her residence hall and starting classes at UMD in August as a journalism major. But as the days tick off to the November election, the first-time voter has a question even more urgent than who she’ll pick for the next commander-in-chief: Where does she cast her ballot?
“I’m voting in the Pennsylvania election, but I’ll be in Maryland on Election Day,” she said. “I’m not really sure what to do.”
Now a roving, voting booth-shaped display on UMD’s campus is demystifying the process for new voters like Twyman. VOTE (Fearlessly)! is a nonpartisan pop-up designed to help Terps register to vote, understand the basics of Election Day and voting out of state, and share in conversations around the November 2024 general election.
The towering structure, which unfolds like a Transformer by day and lights up at night, was created by faculty, alums and students from the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in partnership with TerpsVote, the College of Arts and Humanities, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, the Maryland Democracy Initiative and UMD’s Arts for All initiative. The concept was inspired by “Design and Democracy,” a Spring 2024 creative placemaking course that developed engaging “social-spatial” structures and art to boost civic engagement on campus.
“Voting is a key piece in people feeling like their voice matters, but what we’re finding is that the process can be scary for students,” said architecture Professor Ronit Eisenbach, who led the project with Assistant Clinical Professor Ken Filler, Saija Fantauzzi M.Arch ‘26 and alum Jennifer Byrne ’93. “We wanted to create a public space that sparks enough curiosity to draw them in, and that through student volunteers and activities, creates some empowerment and community.”
According to a 2023 survey by the Center for Information and Research of Civic Learning and Engagement, uncommitted voters aged 18-34 often lack access to relevant information about election issues and candidates, as well as how to register and vote. Staffed by student volunteers ready to guide their peers through the process, UMD’s exhibit uses the arts and design to invite people into a conversation that doesn’t feel intimidating, said Craig Kier, director of the Arts for All initiative.
“It’s pretty inspiring to see that we can galvanize our larger community in a way that welcomes everyone to the table,” he said.
VOTE (Fearlessly)! offers a participatory bent through art-making: Riffing off the “I voted” sticker, visitors can create pins to take with them (and magnets to leave behind on a crowdsourced board) that complete the phrase “I vote for…” with wishes ranging from equity and human rights to love and the environment. It’s a way for students to engage in civil discourse with other students around a rite of passage, said Naomi Cohen, who coordinates social action and engagement at UMD, including TerpsVote.
“As cool as I think I am, students are more likely to listen to another peer,” she said.
Beleaguered by the ballot? Cohen answers students’ most common questions:
Can I register to vote on site? Yes. Volunteers can help you walk through the process of registering on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Deadlines to register vary by state, but in Maryland, you can register in person on Election Day with proof of residency, said Cohen. Volunteers at VOTE (Fearlessly)! use Turbovote to guide students to their state board of elections website and follow the registration steps.
Where can I vote? It depends where you’re registered—and where you want to vote, said Cohen. For Maryland residents, you’ll have a designated polling place in your hometown, unless you’ve registered with your College Park address; on-campus residents who do that will be sent to either the Stamp and Ritchie Coliseum to cast their ballot in-person. If you're out of state, volunteers can help you determine the deadline for requesting or filing an absentee or mail-in ballot.
I’m not a Maryland resident. Can I vote on campus or online? If you’re an out-of-state voter, you can’t vote at a Maryland polling place (unless you re-register to vote as a Maryland resident, said Cohen, which volunteers can help with). Despite—or maybe because of—the technological advances of the 21st century, voting out of state hasn’t changed much since the 1700s: It still requires a paper ballot and a stamp.
I’m a Maryland resident. What do I need to bring with me on election day? It’s always smart to bring a form of identification to the polls. State identification (like a driver’s license), a passport, student or employee ID or proof of residency all work on Election Day.
I’m not interested in either candidate, so why should I bother with this year’s election? The office of the president is just one of a long list of things on a typical ballot, so while you may choose to abstain from picking one of the candidates, it’s worth educating yourself on local elections and measures up for decision, said Cohen. VOTE (Fearlessly)! can point students to nonpartisan information about national and local candidates and issues on the table in their state, such as reproductive rights legislation in Maryland this year. Ballotpedia can provide a sample of your individual ballot by just entering your address.
Topics: