UMass Dartmouth lauded for student voting engagement for 2026 Election Cycle

National recognition highlights leadership in nonpartisan civic engagement and democratic participation

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has been recognized with the Highly Established Action Plan Seal for the 2026 election cycle, an honor awarded to colleges and universities that demonstrate exceptional commitment to nonpartisan democratic engagement and voter participation.

UMass Dartmouth earned the designation by developing a comprehensive, nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan that received 34.5 out of 36 possible points on the Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Guide (SADG) Rubric. The recognition is awarded to institutions whose plans score at least 31.5 points, reflecting a strong commitment to fostering civic learning, voter engagement, and democratic participation among students.

The university is among 167 campuses nationwide that have earned the Highly Established Action Plan Seal for the 2026 election cycle.

“This recognition reflects UMass Dartmouth’s ongoing commitment to preparing students to be informed, engaged citizens,” said Dr. Matthew Roy, who runs the University’s Leduc Center for Civic Engagement. “We intentionally strive to create opportunities for students to participate in the democratic process and understand the importance of civic engagement in their classrooms, communities, and beyond.”

The Strengthening American Democracy Action Planning Guide provides colleges and universities with a framework for building effective democratic engagement strategies. Institutions are evaluated on their ability to develop measurable goals, coordinate campus-wide efforts, support voter education and participation, and establish sustainable practices that strengthen civic engagement.

UMass Dartmouth’s action plan outlines a range of initiatives designed to encourage informed participation in elections, increase civic learning opportunities, and cultivate a campus culture that values democratic engagement. The plan brings together faculty, staff, students, and community partners in support of these efforts.

UMass Dartmouth in collaboration with the Town of Dartmouth, has worked hard to establish and maintain a polling location on campus.  According to a comprehensive landmark study by the Fair Elections Center, roughly 74% of college campuses had no in-person voting options on their campuses during recent major election cycles.  This makes it more difficult for many other college students to cast ballots.

The Highly Established Action Plan Seal recognizes institutions that have demonstrated excellence in planning and implementing nonpartisan democratic engagement initiatives and serves as a benchmark for best practices in higher education civic engagement.