Your Vote Matters

Georgia Voters Are Overwhelmed and Excited | Daniel Coley Dec 21, 2020

It's been quite the year - thanks for seeing it to the end with us! For our last episode of 2020, we sit down with CEEP's own Georgia State Director, Daniel Coley. Daniel gives insight on the attitudes of GA voters towards such a historic runoff, the impact young voters will have on the election, and shares his own story as a young voter of color who grew up in Georgia. After the break, Dan, Jane, and Ellie take a small walk through memory lane to highlight the amazing conversations we've had this year alongside moments written in history. We're proud to be a show that tackles important conversations in order to expand access to political involvement for all young listeners. If you're curious about why your vote matters, this show is for you. Thanks for listening y'all! See you in 2021.

So What Now? | Seth Masket Dec 07, 2020

Election 2020 is finally being wrapped up. So... what now? Dan, Jane, and Ellie take a look at how to stay engaged in 2021 through joining a community with like minded folks, and building community through holding dialogue with those who have different views. Check out livingroomconversations.org for more. We also sat down with Dr. Seth Masket, a professor of political science and researcher at the University of Denver who specializes in political parties. Your Vote Matters is a nonpartisan podcast who does not endorse party ideology or candidates, but we 100% think it's important for young people to know more about what political parties are, why we have them, and how they function. Seth takes us through it all - the basics, the nitty gritty, and opportunities for young people to get involved if they want to.

Young People Have Spoken | Judd Choate Nov 23, 2020

Think of some of the biggest events you held every year - the Super Bowl, Coachella, New York Marathon. Event organizers spend the entire year making sure every detail is perfect. That's the life of Directors of Elections - the people who make sure the process of voting is secure and runs smoothly. Elections are a major operation - and we're not talking about the candidates. Maintaining proper voter lists, setting up polling precincts, and ensuring safe and secure voting are just at the surface of a massive operation to run the logistics and moving parts of elections. Running safe, smooth, and accurate elections is a big job, and it takes a village. We sat down with Colorado Director of Elections Judd Choate to learn more about the ins and outs of his work. We also gained some insight on election integrity and what it means for election officials. Finally, we reflected on how COVID-19 forced many states to completely overhaul how their elections are run within six months, and how this will effect election structure in future years. After the break, Dan, Jane, and Ellie reflect on a momentous election season. Youth have spoken, and they've chosen to be voters.

Fellow Features | Resilience From Compassion Fatigue Nov 09, 2020

Just two days after Election Day 2020, Jane and Ellie sat down with two talented and very accomplished CEEP Fellows to gain insight from their election season experiences. Reed Barkowitz, a junior at Stetson University from FL, and Julian Woods, a sophomore at North Carolina A&T State University are just bursting with energy and pride. Catch their stories, on the ground insight, and hopes for the future of student voter engagement. After the break, Reed joins us again to discuss compassion fatigue - what it is, why student organizers are more likely to experience it, and how to build resilience.

Julia Azari | Faculty Network For Voting Rights Oct 26, 2020

With only 8 days until the culmination of a monumental general election season, Jane and Ellie record one last pre-election episode! It's fun one >>> Joining us the first half of our episode is Julia Azari, political scientist and professor at Marquette University. After plenty of episodes dedicated to state and local politics (don't worry, there's more!) Julia joins us for some timely insight on the 2020 Presidential Election. We talk through a presidential mandate - what it is, why presidents have begun to use them, and if they allow presidents to have more social influence over the public. We also discuss how increased voter turnout can affect a presidential election in ways we might not expect. After the break, Jane and Ellie are joined by Mark Sanders and Sabrina Medler from the Faculty Network for Student Voting Rights. Mark, a Steering Committee member, and Sabrina, a recent college graduate, both share valuable insight on the formation of the network, its mission, and trajectory into 2020 and beyond. As a network, each professor aims to normalize providing voter education in college classrooms. Music to our ears. You can find them at facultyforvotingrights.org

Coach Eric Reveno | Erin Geiger Smith Oct 12, 2020

Welcome to Your Vote Matters Episode 20! Dan, Jane, and Ellie host a joint interview with 2 exciting guests. Coach Eric Reveno is the Assistant Coach for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Georgia Tech University. This summer, he led the initiative #AllVoteNoPlay lobbying the NCAA to make Election Day a mandatory day off for student athletes. Erin Geiger Smith is a journalist and the author of Thank You For Voting! Her book captures the narrative of youth voter participation and barriers to voting, and how to properly engage the next generation. Mentioned in This Episode: - Thank You For Voting! by Erin Geiger Smith. Printed for adults and children! Available in regular bookstores in shops and online. - RSVP to FL Roundtable: https://tinyurl.com/y3ym5me5

#SCOTUS: How Voters Can Impact The Judicial Branch Sep 28, 2020

Hello and welcome to Your Vote Matters! This episode, Dan, Jane, and Ellie took a chance to recap a recent Michigan Roundtable moderated by Jane! The Roundtable featured six CEEP Student Fellows, who spoke to why and how college students are voting in 2020. Their lived experiences and poignant insight gave the three of us so much to think about and emulate in our own work. After the break, we took on one of the most contentious topics of Fall 2020: filling an open Supreme Court Seat. Dan narrowed in on how exactly a seat is filled, and what that means for voters in November. This lead to a discussion about unprecedented power dynamics, future legal implications, and how to navigate it all. You won't want to miss it.

Climbing the Political Ladder | Ryan Pierannunzi Sep 14, 2020

#VoteSafe! This Fall, we're excited to have Jane joining us on the show! Welcome Jane. This episode Jane, Ellie, and Dan welcome Ryan Pierannunzi from Power The Polls, an organization dedicated to recruiting over 250,000 young poll workers this election. We dive into the essential nature of poll workers, the implications of a generational shift in who serves as a poll worker, and why you should go sign up to be one! Yes you! powerthepolls.org After the break, we dive into the Political Ladder, an unofficial term used to describe the path local politicians take toward higher office. Some begin with school board and move to city council, state legislature, and eventually U.S. Congress. Voter turnout in local elections are historically low, meaning not only are so few choosing their local representation, but so few are opening the gates for many to enter a career in politics. The three of us get into it from all angles. Remember to check out powerthepolls.org and our new series on Medium.com!

Anticipating Challenges to Voting | Tim Hughes Aug 17, 2020

Nothing like digging into a laundry list of challenges and solving them in live time! Dan and Ellie *attempt* that on this week's episode of Your Vote Matters. First, we had the opportunity to chat with Tim Hughes, a candidate for the Nevada State Board of Education. Tim demystified a few questions about the roles of school boards and state boards of education, and expanded on how all constituents play a role in engaging with them. Spoiler: College students should engage! Listen in for his perspective on why. After the break, Dan and Ellie take their sweet time analyzing challenges to voting in November, both old and new. Unfamiliar vote by mail processes, poll tax, lack of poll workers, the list goes ON. By acknowledging these challenges upfront, voters can be more prepared to work around them. Dan introduces the 4 R's to Voting By Mail or Dropbox: Request, Receive, Read, Return. Simple as that. Of course, we tackle the elephant in the room: is all this extra effort needed to vote this year worth it? In a word, absolutely. CEEP is proud to be one of hundreds of organizations working to make voting as accessible as possible this Fall. Resources mentioned this episode: mailvote.org USPS.com Sign Up to Be a Poll Worker: powertothepolls.org Your Vote Matters. Make sure your friends and family know their votes matter too!

Disability Pride Month | Warm Cookies of the Revolution Jul 20, 2020

Yum! This episode, Evan Weissman, Founder and Executive Director of Warm Cookies of the Revolution joins us to discuss his mission and success as the first Civic Health Club. Sometimes it helps not to take yourself too seriously when it comes to civics - who knew? After the break, T'alyce, Ellie, and Dan take a look at Disability Pride Month, rooted in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July 1990. We discuss the history, meaning, and future of Disability Pride. We also explore some digital accessibility tools that we can all weave into our organizing. Resources Mentioned This Episode: color.adobe.com WAVE Tool Alternative Text Enjoyed the episode? Make sure to leave us a review!

The Values I Was Taught To Love | Rachel Janfaza Jul 08, 2020

Happy Summer everyone! This episode, we're joined by Rachel Janfaza from CNN Politics to discuss Contemporary Patriotism, specifically among young people and students. Do young people adopt patriotism in the same way? What values does Gen Z consider American? Does each person experience the idea of American values differently? We dig into all of it. After the break, T'alyce, Dan, and Ellie hold a discussion on Sustainable Digital Organizing, expanding on our intro segment from April. We break down the dynamics of how to keep going once momentum fades, and continue to engage in meaningful causes. Remember to update your voter registration! Are you registered to vote at your current address? If not, check out vote.org.

Staying Engaged Off Campus | Dr. Sam Wang Jun 01, 2020

Welcome back to Your Vote Matters! In this episode, Dan, T'alyce, and Ellie discuss gerrymandering and its impacts on American Politics. First, we spoke to Sam Wang, a professor of neuroscience at Princeton and founder of the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, as well as Aaron Barden, Legal and Policy Analyst at the Project. They share the data and trends their project has found as it relates to the impact of gerrymandering and speak on how their project seeks to connect citizens more closely to democracy, with a focus on 2021 redistricting. After the Break, Dan, Ellie, and T'alyce discuss the ways to stay civically engaged after college is over for the Class of 2020, and college students who are not on campus during the summer. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Vote.org COVID-19 Updates: https://www.vote.org/covid-19/ Campus Elect: https://campuselect.org/ Princeton Gerrymandering Project: http://gerrymander.princeton.edu/ You can find Sam Wang on Twitter at: @samwangphd Campus Elect Voter Guides: https://campuselect.org/voter-education/candidate-issue-guides/ Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio The views of our guests do not reflect the views of Campus Election Engagement Project as an organization.

We <3 Local Elections | Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler May 18, 2020

Welcome back to Your Vote Matters! In this episode, Dan, T'alyce, and Ellie cover the importance of local elections, and explore the various roles that young voters can play. First, we spoke with Elizabeth Fielder, a Representative for District 184 in the Pennsylvania State House and candidate for re-election. Elizabeth recounts how local elections are just as important than national elections, even though they are not always as popular as national elections. After the Break, Dan, Ellie, and T'alyce explain the impacts of state governments, and why voting for their members is important. They then shared their memories of local races that were influential to them. Finally, we spoke to CEEP Communications Staffer, Cynthia Capota, about political parties, their development, and how they impact politics and voter turnout in the United States. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Vote.org COVID-19 Updates: https://www.vote.org/covid-19/ Campus Elect: https://campuselect.org/ Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio The views of our guests do not reflect the views of our organization.

Stronger Together | Fellow Features May 04, 2020

Welcome to Your Vote Matters! This episode, Dan, T'alyce, and Ellie had the opportunity to connect with students at the forefront of civic engagement through our Fellow Feature Series. First, we spoke to Greg Gavazzi, a Penn State CEEP Fellow, who discussed the possibilities, advantages, and disadvantages of mail-in voting for remaining primaries and the general election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, we spoke to Noah Robertson, a Penn State CEEP Fellow, who makes the case that universities have a responsibility under the Higher Education Act of 1998 to educate students on civic participation, as well as to register students to vote especially due to students being off-campus during the Pandemic. Next, we spoke to Carlie Pritt, Andrew Goodman Fellow, and Sierra Nathans, both Bowling Green State University Fellows, about their experiences with voting during their childhoods, and how that has formed their relationship with civic engagement in adulthood. After the break, Ellie discusses friend-mapping as a beneficial tactic to increase voter turnout with Sierra and Carlie. Finally, we discussed Kaitlyn’s GOTV playlist, detailing how music can help to increase voter engagement, specifically with younger voters. T Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Kaitlyn's GOTV playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5zW89rZTTPXtb3FKKHoJzd COVID-19 Voting Related Updates: https://www.vote.org/covid-19/ SVI Toolkit Sign on: tinyurl.com/CEEPSignOn1

Digital Organizing 101 | Jasmine Gomez Apr 20, 2020

Welcome to another exciting episode where Dan, T'alyce, and Ellie cover the cutting edge world of Digital Organizing. First, we spoke to Jasmine Gomez - a Women's Health journalist with a background in political writing - about the changing tide of mainstream women's journalism towards involving politics alongside fashion and entertainment. After the break, we explored the fascinating realm of Digital Organizing, and how in this moment, it's the only type of organizing we have. So we're making the best of it. This episode marks the beginning of our Fellow Features series - where we have some of the brightest minds in civic engagement join us. Our first feature comes from Kaitlyn Levon, a Fellow from the University of Florida. Last and certainly not least - we ask "what happened in Wisconsin?" and gain insight from Dan, our very own poll worker. It's a rollercoaster of an episode you won't want to miss. In This Episode: Kaitlyn's GOTV Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5zW89rZTTPXtb3FKKHoJzd Dan's Op-Ed: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/04/07/wisconsin-elections-risk-life/ Student Voting Initiative Sign On Letter: https://campuselect.org/get-out-the-vote/protecting-the-safety-and-rights-of-student-voters-in-the-time-of-covid-19/ Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio

#Televoting Apr 06, 2020

Welcome to Episode 10 of Your Vote Matters! This week, Dan, T'alyce, and Ellie discuss how COVID-19 is changing the landscape of civic engagement. Since so much engagement traditionally relies on in person gatherings, we're moving online, something we're calling TeleVoting. We discuss how the pandemic affects primary elections, different abilities to engage in the political process, and the three stages of TeleVoting: Know Before You Vote, Use Your Voice, and Stay Connected. We break down different means of engaging in elections, the political process, and finding community from a remote space. Resources Mentioned This Episode: Vote.org/COVID-19/ Guides.vote Campuselect.org/blog #televoting graphics on Twitter and Instagram @Campus_Elect Election Updates @Campus_Elect Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio

See A Vote Send A Vote | Aigne Taylor Mar 24, 2020

Welcome to Your Vote Matters, your nonpartisan guide to navigating the political process! Today we're joined by current CEEP Fellow Aigne Taylor, who shared her experience at a civic engagement conference hosted at Harvard University. It's a Party at the Polls Y'all! Dan, T'alyce and Ellie chat about voting as an act of celebration - looking back on its history and future potential. And of course, CEEP remains committed to a strong COVID-19 response. We'll go in depth next episode, and we introduced it today. Spoiler: It's all about #televoting! Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Vote.org #Televoting Infographics - Find them on our social media @campus_elect Are you a first time voter? Be sure to send us your stories! Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio

#StudentsVote Mar 02, 2020

This week on Your Vote Matters, we jump into the history of student voting rights and voter engagement, and how the landscape has changed rapidly over 50 years. Student and youth voters are becoming a major voting block, and we dig into the social change needed to make this happen. Also, we started a staff March Madness bracket! Stay tuned for updates. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Students Learn Students Vote Coalition Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio

Generational Voting | Brandie Stonge Feb 24, 2020

This week, T'alyce and Ellie sit down with guest artist Brandie Stonge to talk about the relationship between politics and art, and how visual representation reaches voters. After the break, we take a look at generational voting rights through the lens of Black History Month and the Equal Voting Rights Act of 1965. Join the conversation. Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio

A Day In The Life | Ryan Drysdale Feb 10, 2020

Welcome back for our first episode of 2020! This episode Your Vote Matters is joined by Ryan Drysdale, Assistant Director of the ALL IN Democracy Challenge. After the break, Dan, T'alyce, and Ellie dive in to what it's like to work in the nonpartisan world, and why we chose it. Resources Mentioned This Episode: ALL IN Democracy Challenge National Study of Student Learning, Voting, and Engagement Cover Art: @hummingbee_studio

Pizza At The Polls | Kat Calvin Dec 17, 2019

We're back for our last episode of 2019! On this episode of Your Vote Matters, we're joined by special guest Kat Calvin, Founder of Spread the Vote. She gives perspective on identification as means of elevating the quality of life for millions of people without one. Once people can change their lives, then they'll vote. Spread the Vote just began work in two new states - Michigan and Pennsylvania - and T'alyce and Ellie were natural volunteer recruits. After the break, Dan, T'alyce and Ellie turn back to the 2020 Presidential Primary! We break down the primary schedule, state's rights, third party candidates, and more. Presidential primary season is around the corner, and we want everyone to be in the know. We'll be back in January with more phenomenal guests and nonpartisan election coverage! Find Spread the Vote on Social Media @spreadthevoteus Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio Like what you heard? Leave us a review! As always, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @campus_elect. #pizza at the polls

We All Have A Voice | Rainesford Stauffer Dec 10, 2019

We're back from the holiday break! On this episode of Your Vote Matters, we're joined by special guest Rainesford Stauffer, a journalist who covers culture and politics. She gives insight on rural and young voters, nonpartisan work in journalism, and sheds light on this hot topic: should the voting age be lowered to 16? After the break, Dan, T'alyce, and Ellie give a breakdown of how a caucus works versus a ballot primary! Presidential primary season is around the corner, and we want everyone to be in the know. Next week we'll be joined by Kat Calvin from Spread the Vote. 'Tis the season for exciting special guests! Find Rainesford on social media or Muck Rack by searching @RainesfordStauffer. Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio Want to share your thoughts on the interview? Tag us on Twitter or Instagram @campus_elect. Like what you listened to? Leave us a review!

Fellow Interview + Q&A Nov 18, 2019

This episode Dan joins T'alyce and Ellie as our co-host! First, we interview Kayla Payne, a current CEEP Fellow from Louisville Kentucky. In the second half, Dan, Ellie, and T'alyce host our first Q&A! We answer questions about absentee ballots, the census, and more! On This Episode: League of Women Voters Ballotpedia travel.state.gov Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio Stay tuned for our November live streams, and we'll be back early December!

Getting Into The Groove of Voting Nov 11, 2019

Your Vote Matters Episode 2: This episode, T'alyce and Ellie dig into grassroots voter engagement, recap the 2019 Election, and talk about voting in pop culture! Lizzo and Maggie Rogers both had voter registration drives at their concerts, and we get into it. Mentioned in this episode: When We All Vote National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement - Tufts University Remember next week is our Q&A Episode! Send your questions to @campuselect or tag #yourvotematters. #VotingSquad Cover Art: Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio

Go Vote! Election Prep + VA Spotlight Oct 30, 2019

Welcome to the first episode of Your Vote Matters, a podcast dedicated to a nonpartisan approach to the political process. This episode, Ellie and T'alyce take a deep dive into Voting 101, aka everything you need to know before voting this November! Resources Mentioned this Episode: Ballotpedia.com League of Women Voters Secretary of State's Website at the State Level Vote.org Campuselect.org Cover Art created by Brandie Stonge @hummingbee_studio Note: Campus Election Engagement Project was founded in 2008, and serves as an ongoing project since 2012. More on us during the next episode!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected