Elon University is committed to promoting civic engagement and participation in the democratic process, a mission that becomes all the more important during election years. As written in the university’s mission statement, “We integrate learning across the disciplines and put knowledge into practice, thus preparing students to be global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.”

The university promotes learning, understanding and constructive discussion through its Active Citizen Series and this year was named a “Voter Friendly Campus” by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA for a second time. In 2022, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge named Elon as one of the top institutions working to increase nonpartisan student voter registration, education and turnout and this year ALL IN recognized Elon for the quality of its nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan. Entities such as the Elon University Political Engagement Work Group, the Elon University Election 2024 Planning Team and the Council on Civic Engagement are working diligently and collaboratively to promote civic engagement.

Round I Voted stickersEvents

Talking Across Difference: An In-the Moment Dialogue
Monday, September 15 at 4:00pm in the Moseley Center (McKinnon F)
Recent events remind us that college campuses are not separate from the tensions or challenges of broader public life. In moments like these, it can be difficult to know how to talk across differences without deepening divides. We hope to create space across campus to give everyone a chance to pause together, listen and speak with care, and consider how we might build understanding in challenging times.
Sponsored by the Council on Civic Engagement

Fall Dialogue Series: Immigration 
Tuesday, September 23, 6:00pm, Moseley 217
Utilizing a Living Room Conversation issue guide, students, faculty, and staff will reflect on and discuss the values that guide immigration policies and practices and their hopes for what this will look like in the future.
Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

The Indigenous Perspective Praxis: Holistic Data Science Workflow Designs for Building Community Partnerships, Education, and Citizen Engagement
Tuesday, September 23, 4:30pm, LaRose Student Commons, Room 200
Dr. Joseph Robertson, founder and chief data scientist of Mato Ohitika Analytics LLC, will be on campus to share his passion for Data and AI for good. Robertson brings theory to practice using data science workflows to solve community challenges and will speak about the Data Sovereignty Initiative framework to educate communities on the ethical examination of how to bridge science and culture.
Sponsored by Data Nexus

Active Citizen Series: Deliberative Dialogue – Technology and Relationships
Monday, September 29, 4:30pm, Lakeside 212
While technology can be used to maintain relationships, keep up with breaking news, and navigate our cities, some experts have suggested that technology is like an addiction. As of 2025, North Carolina has joined half the nation in legislating a ban on use of cell phones in K-12 schools. In a rare showing of bipartisan support, these pieces of legislation are intended to increase learning and benefit students’ mental health. Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General called on Congress to require warning statements on social media platforms as is the practice on cigarette packaging. What is the way forward?
Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Active Citizen Series: A Conversation with an Elected Leader: Bryan Ray L’13, North Carolina District Court Judge
Wednesday, October 1, 4:30pm, Moseley Center First Floor
Bryan Ray L’13 was elected last fall as a district court judge in North Carolina’s District 17. Ray is a graduate of Elon Law School and has practiced family law in the Graham-based firm of Doby & Ray. He has served on the Alamance County Board of Elections and has also been involved with the county’s teen court program and juvenile crime prevention council.
Sponsored by the Center for Leadership and Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Fall Dialogue Series: Peace Building in the United States
Wednesday, October 22, 6:00pm, Moseley 217
We all know that today’s America is characterized by deep divisions that impact all areas of our lives.  Come to this dialogue with students, staff and faculty to discuss why this is the case and to brainstorm ways we can move towards a more unified country, and world.
Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Liberal Arts Forum Lecture: A Conversation with Shannon Watts on Purpose, Power and Taking Action
Thursday, October 23, 7:30pm, Whitley Auditorium
Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a leading force for gun violence prevention with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network that has successfully effected change at the local, state and national levels. In 2013 Moms Demand Action partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to form Everytown for Gun Safety, a nationwide movement of millions of Americans working together to end the epidemic of gun violence. Watts is an active board member of Emerge America, one of the nation’s leading organizations for recruiting and training women to run for political office.
Sponsored by the Liberal Arts Forum

A Conversation with Natalie Allison ’13, Washington Post White House Reporter
Monday, November 10, 7:00pm, Turner Theater (Schar Hall)
One year after the 2024 election, Natalie Allison ’13, a White House reporter with The Washington Post, will discuss her experiences covering the presidency and politics, her role as a journalist and watchdog, the state of the industry, her career path from The Pendulum to The Post, and more in a wide-ranging conversation with Anthony Hatcher, professor of journalism and chair of the journalism department in the School of Communications and a former newspaper reporter and editor.
Sponsored by the School of Communications, Council on Civic Engagement, Department of Political Science, Political Engagement Work Group, Kernodle Center for Civic Life, and the Student Media Board

Local Government in Alamance County: A Conversation with Richard Roedner and Craig Honeycutt
Wednesday, November 12, 4:00pm, Moseley Center First Floor
Richard Roedner, Town Manager of the Town of Elon, and Craig Honeycutt, City Manager of the City of Burlington, will sit down with students to discuss their roles in public administration and how local government decisions shape our daily lives.
Sponsored by the Phoenix Policy Institute and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Fall Dialogue Series: Isolationism – What Is America’s Role in Supporting the Global Community?
Tuesday, November 18, 6:00pm, Moseley 217
There has long been debate about what America’s role is within the global community and what, if any, responsibility we have as a country to get involved in global conflicts and events.  This conversation has gotten louder with ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.  Come to this event to hear varying perspectives on the topic using the Civil Dialogue model.
Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life

Campus Dialogue Events
Campus dialogue events can be found on the Council on Civic Engagement Dialogue Opportunities page.

Voter Resources

Candidate Resources

Election Resources

Faculty, Staff and Student Resources