Students for
Voting Rights

Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration in Florida has implemented policies that have significantly impacted civic engagement and academic freedom on university campuses. For example, the removal of polling locations from college campuses, justified by concerns over safety and accessibility, has made it more difficult for students to vote,  especially those reliant on-campus facilities due to transportation barriers. Stricter voter ID laws have further compounded these challenges, particularly affecting out-of-state students who may not have the required Florida-issued identification. 

Alongside these voting restrictions, DeSantis’ administration has supported book bans and limitations on teaching about race, gender, and other social issues, effectively stifling academic freedom and open discussion on important civic and social topics. The “Stop WOKE Act”, for instance, restricts how professors can discuss these topics, framing classroom speech as government speech, which the state can control. This law has led to professors being threatened with disciplinary action for discussing certain topics in ways the state deems unacceptable.

In response to these challenges, pro-democracy student groups across Florida universities have taken active measures to protect voting rights and civic engagement on campus. At Florida State University, the student government passed a resolution condemning these voter suppression tactics and collaborated with local voting rights organizations to provide students with information on how to navigate the new voting laws. Similarly, student leaders at the University of Southern Florida have formed coalitions that include representatives from various student organizations, faculty, and lofcal community groups. These coalitions focus on voter registration drives, organizing education workshops on civic engagement, and coordinating actions to protect voting rights. 

However, the implementation of Senate Bill 7050 has severely hampered these efforts. This bill, which increases penalties for errors made during voter registration, has led many student groups to cease their voter registration drives due to the risks involved. At the University of South Florida, for instance, most college clubs have stopped registering voters because they fear the penalties. Despite these setbacks, some organizations like People Power for Florida continue their voter registration efforts on campuses, though the process has become more complicated and cautious​.

In addition to these efforts, pro-democracy student groups have responded to restrictions on academic freedom by launching awareness campaigns, supporting legal challenges, and organizing alternative educational forums. For instance, during Banned Books Week, FSU students and alumni participated in panel discussions to raise awareness about the impact of book bans on Florida’s education system. These events, like the one held at Midtown Reader, emphasized the importance of protecting access to diverse literary perspectives and fostering critical discussions on censorship and free expression​​.

For all the above reasons, the democracy movement needs sustainable campus coalitions to protect against attacks on democracy and voting rights. The Florida example serves as a preview for what college campuses could look like under Project 2025 (minus the complete military police state aspect). Therefore, to end the suppression of civic engagement and raise awareness about threats like Project 2025, creating long-lasting campus infrastructure is critical in 2024—no matter who wins the White House.