What is the uvote?
In 2021, Katie Holinstat was a high school freshman, knocking on doors to help with the re-election campaign of a Congresswoman in her New Jersey district. She realized that college-age voters are rarely home, and often skip out on elections because they don’t plan ahead to vote by mail from university campuses. The wheels in Katie’s mind started turning and the U.Vote was born. Her younger sister Ellie Holinstat joined as the non-profit’s first official officer and together, Katie and Ellie began recruiting friends and volunteer advocates across the country using social media and personal outreach. U.Vote advocates ensure high school seniors receive absentee ballots before they leave for college and understand how to fill them out and return them… so no teen ever misses out on an election.
Step 1: Identify a Mentor
Find a teacher, administrator or principal to support your effort. AP Government & English teachers are often eager to help. Gain permission to launch the U.Vote, which means you’ll need permission to have senior class English teachers hand out applications for mail ballots on college “Decision Day” each May.
Step 2: Downloads & Copies
Visit the website for your county’s election office and download a vote-by-mail application. Identify the number of seniors in your school and make the appropriate number of copies. Need help finding your county’s application? Contact us and a U.Vote officer would be happy to help!
Step 3: "Decision Day" Distribution
With the support of your mentor, ensure that all senior class English teachers receive enough copies of the mail-ballot applications to cover their classes.
Talk to us
Are you interested in becoming a U.Vote officer & volunteer? Reach out to learn more, and to become an official U.Vote school representative.