For many Rollins students, this fall marks a first: the first election where their name is on the voter roll and their voice counts. With the voter registration deadline approaching, the Democracy Project is working to make sure no student misses out on this moment.
“It’s becoming increasingly hard to find a time to vote and find a time to exercise your civic duty.” – Nico Pellicce (’27)
The Democracy Project is a nonpartisan, student-led group that creates opportunities for Rollins students to get involved in civic life. Nico Pellicce (’27), a member who runs the group’s social media page, said this fall is an especially important time for the organization’s work. This semester, the team is putting a special focus on first-year students, many of whom will cast their first ballot in these midterm elections.
For Pellicce, getting involved was about making that process easier. Between classes, jobs, and everything else on students’ plates, he sees groups that make voting accessible as essential, especially in a community as close-knit as Rollins.
That is easier said than done. Pellicce admits that getting students engaged is one of the group’s toughest challenges, especially when everyone’s feeds are flooded with political information, some reliable and some not so much. To cut through the noise, the Democracy Project partnered with the League of Women Voters of Orange County, a local chapter of the national League of Women Voters based right here in Winter Park. “[It’s] one thing to vote and another thing to know what you’re voting for,” said Matthew Ewy (’28). The group is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that works to protect voting rights. Run entirely by volunteers, the group focuses on educating voters strictly with facts, which makes it a reliable source for students trying to figure out how and where to vote.
The Democracy Project has also found allies in other organizations on campus. The team partnered with Rollins Athletics, and the men’s and women’s soccer teams have been sporting shirts that encourage students to vote for their rights. Additionally, the group is working with the volleyball and basketball teams on civic-themed merchandise and activities. Some coaches have even signed a pledge committing to support civic engagement among their athletes.
Ashley Campbell, program assistant for civic and campus initiatives, said the partnership fills a real gap. Athletes are a community the Democracy Project does not usually get to interact with much, and at a school with such a strong athletic presence, getting them involved matters, she said. Seeing athletes in civic swag at games shows the whole community that voting is important, she added.
Of course, a group that talks about politics must be careful when spreading its message to maintain impartiality. When asked how the Democracy Project stays neutral, Pellicce said the answer comes back to its mission: preserving the democratic process and the constitutional rights that belong to everyone, not any single party or candidate. “We focus on the rights given by the constitution, being free to express any thought and being free to defend any rights that people had in the founding documents,” said Pellicce.
The group’s other strategy is to make civic engagement feel fun and doable. That mission was on full display at “A 5 Minute Difference,” the Democracy Project’s voter registration drive. The event made its first appearance last year and returned this semester just in time for the registration deadline.
Democracy Project member Matthew Ewy (‘28) explained that the goal was to register as many students on campus as possible for the general election. One of the trickiest parts, he said, is that many students do not realize they need to register about a month before Election Day. To make the process as easy as possible, the drive offered registration in both English and Spanish.
But the event was not only for eligible voters. Ewy emphasized that the Democracy Project wants to connect with all students, whether they can vote or not, and that its events are open to anyone. At the drive, students who are registered to vote could show their voting status to claim a prize, like an eagle plushie or a pair of socks. International students could earn the same prizes by signing a card showing their support for voting.
That spirit of support runs through the entire effort. Victoria Teske, associate director of the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, said the goal is to make voting as accessible as possible for students. Anything the office can do to make the process more engaging is important, she explained, especially for out-of-state students, who can find the process overwhelming. For Teske, the office is meant to feel like family, a place students can count on for help with every step of voting.
As for what comes next, the Democracy Project is not slowing down. The deadline to register to vote in Florida is Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 19 at the Winter Park Library, so casting a ballot is only a short walk away.
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