Report from the Front Lines: Missouri
Missouri State's Inspiring Approach to Engaging Students in Democracy
No state has experienced the anti-democracy downward spiral any more painfully than Missouri.
Not that long ago, the “Show Me” state was purple, electing Democrats to positions such as Governor, Senator and Attorney General.
Now?
Extremist politicians at every level and almost everywhere you look. Gerrymandering. Abortions bans. Referenda passed by the voters that are simply ignored. Now an Ohio-style sneak attack on the Constitutional Amendment process itself to essentially end majority rule (will write more on this).
One reason I like to hit the road, traveling to red states that are too often overlooked, is to get a sense, up close, of what’s happening. After all, these are the front lines in the right wing’s attack on democracy, so we better focus on them. Sadly, so much of it is the same story. States of non-democracy, breeding extremism. Often what happens in one state ends up being a preview for what’s coming in others.
But another reason I like to travel so much is that even as states go through the anti-democracy hell Missouri is, I also find hope. And that hard work is being done. I encounter pro-democracy patriots who are fighting back, and learn of new best practices that are making a difference. I find progress to build on.
And in Springfield, Missouri this weekend—where I flew in yesterday to speak at Democrat Days of the Ozarks—that’s exactly what I found.
In fact, I learned of such an effort within minutes of my first event last night.
Young Voter Engagement: “Paws to the Polls” at Missouri State
I’ve previously written about how important it is that university and college campuses—not just through student organizations, but the universities themselves and their faculty—lift their students into democracy.
With much voter suppression in states aimed squarely at young voters, I believe colleges and universities shoulder a responsibility to stand up for their constituents. Students alone should not have to do the work.
Which is why I was so inspired to learn what Missouri State University is doing along those lines. (MSU is the state’s second largest university, with more than 18,000 undergraduate students, and more than 23,000 total students.)
A few years back, a coalition of MSU faculty and students was concerned by the low voting rate among MSU students, and more broadly, college-age votersnationally. As they wrote: “for example, 48% in the 2016 presidential election (50% at MSU) and 40% in the 2018 midterm election (36% at MSU), low voting rates in local elections, lack of student access to education about the voting process and non-partisan political sources (see our data at right), and feeling disengaged, intimidated, or anxious about the process.”
So they decided to create an ongoing program to do something about it.
Housed within the school’s Office of Public Affairs, it’s called “Paws to the Polls,” (MSU’s mascot is a bear), and it’s a permanent, non-partisan engagement of MSU’s student body—so that the 23,000+ students know exactly what issues are at stake in all elections here, as well as the steps they need to take to participate in the community’s democratic process.
“Paws to the Polls” started out by conducting a study of the barriers and other factors that were leading to low turnout on campus, and then got to work addressing all those obstacles.
What are some of the things that faculty and students are now partnering on to lift decmoracy?
They have created a “voter education curriculum” and continuously present it to a wide variety of student groups (with a particular focus on first-year students, new to campus), residence halls and classes, reaching thousands of students—their data show that those who take the curriculum are more motivated to vote afterward;
They print and distribute thousands of Voter Information Booklets throughout campus—which includes information on how to register and vote as a student, how to get the proper/required ID, dates of upcoming elections, how to vote by mail/absentee, etc.
Here’s an on-line version of the Booklet;
Here’s a magnet with voter information on it:
Like the League of Women Voters, they print and distribute a non-partisan Voter Guide of the candidates and issues appearing on upcoming ballots;
They engage in legislative advocacy at the Statehouse in Jefferson City, including direct visits, email campaigns, and advocating for legislation that supports student voting—such as reinstating university ID as valid for voting in Missouri;
They host forums with candidates themselves on campus;
They engage in ongoing voter registration drives and tabling.
For their efforts, which led to higher turnout in both 2020 (62%) and 2022, “Paws to the Polls” has been recognized by the American Democracy Project—earning the Silver Seal Award for 2020.
For a broader look at their work, go HERE.
And here’s a video explaining what they do:
Bottom line: if you have a campus near you, work on a campus, are in college yourself, or have a child or grandchild who is, check and see if there is an ongoing effort like “Paws to the Polls” to do this type of critical work. If it’s not happening, figure out how to use your footprint to change that.
This is low hanging fruit to lift democracy, folks. Boosting a population we desperately need fully engaged in democracy.
Thank you to Missouri State for helping show the way.
As a Missourian and MSU as my alma mater, thank you for covering this. We're fighting up here in Kansas City, too!
Really enjoyed the video and glad to see the League of Women Voters listed in the credits. Such a great message to pass on to all young people.