Civic Engagement Starts Here!
The UMW Votes program works to create a culture of electoral and civic engagement on campus.
At the University Opening Assembly in August 2018, President Paino stated:
“Here at Mary Washington, I want to promote a liberal arts education that is active in the world; that is responding to the issues of our day; that is preparing young people to go out and be civic agents to effect change…What I want to do is empower these young people with the tools and with the intellectual skills but also the wherewithal to get out and participate in an effective way in our democracy.”
The UMW Votes program supports students, faculty, and staff as they develop the skills, habits, and knowledge needed for a life of engaged citizenship. UMW Votes provides opportunities for student leadership in civic engagement and helps clarify the voter registration process for students, faculty, staff and our broader Fredericksburg community members.
The UMW Votes program works with groups on and off campus to help:
- Register students and other community members to vote (either locally or absentee).
- Raise awareness of the importance of voting.
- Help people get rides to the polls on Election Day and understand which polling place to go to.
To join UMW Votes, and get notifications of our upcoming activities, visit our portal on MyUMW.
UMW Votes is a collaborative program between the Center for Community Engagement, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, and Student Activities and Engagement (SAE).