With the 2024 election less than a week away, Penn State students are getting ready to vote. One organization in particular has been preparing to help Penn State students register to vote.

Project 26 is an organization that strives to educate and promote democracy in Pennsylvania by encouraging the youth to vote in key elections. Its mission is to show students how to exercise their right to vote and take control of their lives through civic engagement. Its name refers to the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1971.

Abigail Ariza, the organization’s director of communications and digital organization, spoke about some of the marketing strategies they use to get students to vote. Project 26 reaches students through tables around campus and on social media.

“We run a statewide digital organizing campaign where we distribute weekly toolkits to align on messaging and cohesive content pieces,” Ariza said. “In the toolkit, you’ll find question prompts to interview students on campus about the issues that matter to them the most.”

Project 26 sets up tables around campus to talk to students about how important it is to vote in elections. It also helps students register and pledge to vote. If you didn’t visit a table to talk to a volunteer, Project 26 Penn State uses Instagram to connect with students.

The social media presence helps students get motivated to go out and vote but, according to Ariza, they’re already eager.

“They are super excited about it with some of them, it is their first time voting,” she said. “Elections can be overwhelming, especially this one, but everyone seems excited to use their voice.”

Project 26 holds a strong message about voting, emphasizing how important it is to vote, especially in this coming election. As a swing state, Pennsylvania plays a crucial role in shaping the presidential election outcome, pushing students to vote even more. Project 26 encourages students to recognize their voices in the democratic process, urging them to participate.

“There are 600,000 students in Pennsylvania. We have the power to sway an election because Pennsylvanians pick the president,” Ariza said.

Voting turnout is also an important component of the Project 26 campaign. With 600,000 students in Pennsylvania, getting each one registered is important to the mission. According to Ariza, 1,500 students have registered to vote through Project 26.

As Project 26 sets out to empower and engage students in exercising their right to vote, obstacles can often arise.

“Voter protection will always be a challenge,” Ariza said. “There will be challenges and we have to defend elections and everyone’s right to vote.”

Penn State students could volunteer to help with Project 26 this election season. A major success of the program, according to Ariza, was seeing students turn into leaders and having conversations with student voters.

More information on Project 26 can be found here.