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Media Advisory: Radford University to host Highlanders Vote, a two-day election event

Radford, VA (10/30/2024) — Radford University's College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences and the SMART Lab will host Highlanders Vote: Road to the Ballot Box, a two-day series of panels, discussions, interactive activities, and an election watch party on November 4-5, 2024. This event will allow students to explore key aspects of the electoral process and encourage civic engagement through insightful panels, wellness sessions, and fun activities.

To increase student participation, graduate students from the Strategic Communication master's program and the Department of Political Science have been promoting the event to motivate faculty and student attendance.

"We know elections can sometimes feel overwhelming, so we focused on making this event engaging and fun, while addressing key issues Americans will face when they head to the polls," said Mary Rose Prosinski, a graduate student in the Strategic Communication master's program and a member of the student-led public relations team.

Kicking off on November 4, the opening ceremony will feature Dr. Scott Dunn from the School of Communication. The first day will include panels such as Beyond the Ballot: The Electoral College and the Path to Pragmatic Pluralism and Shaping U.S. Elections: The Supreme Court and Districting, where experts will provide insights into these important topics.

On November 5, attendees can participate in an Interactive Wellness Session: De-Stress for Democracy, combining yoga and therapy dogs to help everyone unwind amidst election-day excitement. The day continues with discussions on The Art of Civic Engagement, Foundations of Democracy: Voting Rights and Campaign Tactics, and Gen-Z, Social Media, Politics, and Pop Culture, offering meaningful conversations about civic responsibility and engagement.

To conclude the two-day event, students and employees are invited to attend the Highlanders Vote: Ballot Box Block Party. This celebration of civic engagement will feature live music, food, prizes and a watch party for election results, creating a vibrant atmosphere for students and the Radford community to come together, enjoy games and connect with one another.

"We've made a commitment at Radford University to get every Highlander registered and voting. That's a big effort, and we should recognize that," said Chapman Rackaway, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science. "The best way to do that is to put the 'party' in political party through a really fun time. We want to do more than watch results; we want to celebrate democracy together."

A full schedule of events is attached.

**Please RSVP to Justin Ward, director of media services, jward53@radford.edu, if a member of your organization is interested in attending.**