In the weeks leading up to the November midterm elections, Texas A&M University–San Antonio hosted two Party at the Polls events to help students prepare to vote, learn about the election process and explore ways to become more involved in their communities.
Organized by the University’s Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, the events took place Oct. 21 and 27 and offered students an opportunity to connect with nonpartisan voting resources, ask questions and learn more about the issues and candidates on the ballot.
Party at the Polls was held in partnership with Civic Nation's ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a national initiative that encourages student civic engagement and voter participation. Through a generous donation from ALL IN, the Mays Center was able to host the events and provide resources and activities for participating students.
Lori Day, assistant director of civic engagement at the Mays Center, said the events were designed to make the voting process more approachable while helping students understand how they can participate in civic life.
Resources included voter information from the League of Women Voters and VOTE411.org, a nonpartisan online guide to elections. Through VOTE411, students can check their voter registration status, learn about candidates and find information about early voting options.
“Party at the Polls offers a safe space where students can ask questions,” Day said. “It really helps break down barriers and gives students more confidence when they vote. If they leave feeling more comfortable with voting compared to when they walked in, then we consider that a success.”
The events combined voter education with a welcoming, social atmosphere featuring music, food and representatives from community organizations. Through interactive activities, those organizations introduced students to opportunities for civic engagement beyond the ballot box.
Students also completed pledge cards outlining their plans to vote and identifying other ways they could contribute to their communities, such as volunteering or joining student organizations. Several hundred students attended Party and the Polls and more than half completed their voting plans.
Day said connecting civic engagement to students’ personal interests is an important part of helping them recognize the difference they can make, both on campus and in their neighborhoods.
“It’s all about tapping into the things students are passionate about and connecting those interests to elections and community engagement,” Day said.
Beyond encouraging students to vote, Day hopes the experience inspires them to think about the needs of their communities and how they can help address them.
“We hope events like this inspire students to reflect on things they’d like to change in their own neighborhoods or how they can support others who are less fortunate,” Day said. “Every student has a voice, and everyone can make a difference.”
Party at the Polls is part of the University’s broader effort to make voting more accessible and encourage students to become informed, active participants in their communities. By combining practical election information with opportunities to connect with community organizations, the events help students see civic engagement as an ongoing commitment rather than something limited to Election Day.
As part of that effort, the Mays Center is serving as an official polling site. The University’s polling location will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, giving students and other eligible voters another opportunity to cast their ballots.