spoken word
Pam Shropshire wearing a Swarthmore College t-shirt and handing out voter registration applications.
LAURENCE KESTERSON
Pam Shropshire was recently selected to the Democracy Inventory Design Team, an initiative of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Campus Compact. She joins representatives from colleges across the U.S. to help create tools and resources to promote democratic values and practices in higher education.

Voting Matters

A leader in Swarthmore’s effort to raise student voices
by Ryan Dougherty
Pam Shropshire, special assistant of presidential initiatives, has been leading Swarthmore’s Get Out the Vote (GOTV) committee for more than four years, and is “uber-passionate” about voting. She is focused on how to get students to register and vote, to ensure that their voices are heard. Shropshire shares the mission of the nonpartisan committee, its many sources of support across campus, and the under-tapped power of the youth vote.

What do you see as the mission of GOTV?

One reason that creating this committee was a priority for President Valerie Smith in 2018 was that voter turnout among Swarthmore students was below that of some peer institutions. That was really surprising, because we tend to think of our students as activists. Part of what this committee can do is help students connect their activism to voting.

We’re focused on trying to reach young voters and get them to turn out. The last census showed us that Millennials and Generation Z make up about 44% of potential voters. They really do have power if they turn out. GOTV stresses that voting allows for the possibility of positive change, and that young people can lead the way.

What do you say to students who feel ambivalent about voting?

I understand where that comes from. Some people distrust the electoral system. They’re disillusioned with politics. They’re aware of the barriers that really target young people and communities of color, and they care deeply about social justice around the world. We’re in a presidential election cycle that can feel surreal or overwhelming. But I’m passionate about the opportunity, through voting, to move the agenda forward for the things people care about. There may not be an ideal candidate, but I ask them to consider who can help them see progress. Or maybe there’s an issue they want to focus on. We try to focus less on candidates and more on students’ ability to participate.

How does the committee raise awareness on campus?

Our campus relies on gatherings and human interaction. We focus on things like tabling and info sessions, where we can engage students and have conversations. We did a voting Quizzo night last spring, nerding out about politics and even presidential pets, which was a lot of fun. Not everyone in our community is eligible to vote, but we want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate and engage in the conversation.

Election Day is our Super Bowl, though. We’re stationed prominently on campus, and have a food truck and music and shuttles to the polling places. It’s about creating excitement. And we’re here to answer last-minute questions about voting at one of the two polling places in the Ville, or in the students’ home states.

What are the committee’s key sources of support?

It all starts with the unwavering support of President Smith. We have faculty, staff, and students who volunteer on the committee and come up with great ideas, as well as some key partners across campus.

We’re also grateful for the efforts of the Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility, which has been part of GOTV since the beginning. Fellows from the Inclusive Excellence Program of the Division of Student Affairs and members of the nonpartisan voting group SwatVotes are invaluable in bringing us a student perspective on voting and some of the obstacles and opportunities they see.

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