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LANSING – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has announced the 2023 Michigan Student Voting Summit will be held Oct. 6 at Oakland University. The nonpartisan summit is hosted by the Department of State in partnership with Campus Vote Project. It is a chance for students, educators, administrators, elected officials, and advocates to come together for a day of civic learning, idea sharing, and networking.
“In a few short years, Michigan has gone from one of the worst to first in youth voter turnout,” said Secretary Benson. “Engaging young voters in our democratic process is one of my top priorities as Secretary of State. Initiatives like the Student Voting Summit and opportunities for leadership like the Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force are part of the reason Michigan has emerged as a national youth voting leader. I’m proud of the work we’ve done with elected officials on both sides of the aisle to empower the next generation of active voters and strengthen our democracy.”
According to a report by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University, Michigan voters ages 18-29 turned out at a rate of 37% in the 2022 midterm elections, higher than any other state CIRCLE analyzed, and significantly higher than the national average youth turnout rate of 23%. Michigan was one of only four states where youth turnout was higher in 2022 than in 2018.