May 16, 2025

SVSU Recognized as Voter-Friendly Campus for 2025-2026 Cycle

Saginaw Valley State University has been recognized for its efforts to encourage students to register and vote, earning the designation of a Voter Friendly Campus by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA. SVSU is one of 272 campuses in 39 states and the District of Columbia to earn the designation for the 2025-2026. 

The mission of the 2025 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process every year, not just during years featuring federal elections. SVSU was evaluated based on a written plan detailing efforts to register, educate and turn out student voters in 2024, as well as steps taken to facilitate voter engagement on campus and a final analysis of all efforts.

A signature initiative of SVSU’s voter engagement efforts is the Cardinals Vote program. Established in 2018, this nonpartisan program connects students with more opportunities to participate in the democratic process by promoting voter registration and providing candidate and ballot information. 

“I’m incredibly proud of our campus community for achieving this recognition again,” said Kevin G. Lorentz II, SVSU assistant professor of political science and faculty coordinator of Cardinals Vote. “It shows how committed SVSU is to civic engagement.”