This month, LWV-BMC’s Civic Conversation is talking to Mark Fraley, the associate director of PACE, the Political and Civic Engagement Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University, and Pearl Vinnard, an IU PACE student, to speak on the Big Ten Voting Challenge.

Because young people vote in smaller numbers than typical voters, the Big Ten Voting Challenge was created to help foster increased participation by young adults in democratic engagement throughout the Big Ten. This is done by promoting voter registration, turnout, and nonpartisan education while assisting students in finding and using their voices as active, engaged citizens. According to Fraley, BTVC has helped increase voter turnout through nonpartisan voter education and registering students to vote.

One reason that younger people do not vote, says Vinnard, is that they often feel their voices do not matter. With the Big Ten Voting Challenge, students can help their universities increase their voting numbers through this unique competition.