Designated as a Voter-Friendly Campus, Montgomery County Community College recently earned additional recognitions by the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge for its high rate of student voter registration and turnout for the 2020 election.

MCCC earned the highest voter registration and highest voter turnout awards for two-year institutions in the State Challenges Awards for nonpartisan student voter participation efforts in the 2020 election.

In addition, MCCC received the 2020 Silver Seal from the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge for achieving a greater than 60 percent turnout. More than 840 two- and four-year higher education institutions from across the country participate in the All-In Challenge.

As part of MCCC’s designation as a Voter-Friendly Campus, MCCC President Dr. Victoria Bastecki-Perez became a signatory of the All-In Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Voter Participation.

For this commitment, MCCC increased its voter registration efforts to incorporate more online registration and provided consistent messaging to students and employees about voter registration, mail-in and absentee ballots and voting rights.

In addition, MCCC’s Pottstown and Blue Bell Campuses served as polling precincts during the 2020 elections, as well as the recent 2021 elections. The Pottstown Campus also served as a secure ballot drop-off location for the elections.

“Montgomery County Community College encourages all students to be active members of society and engaged in their communities,” said Michael Bettinger, MCCC Director of Government and External Relations. “Voting is a very significant part of civic engagement where students can exercise their opinions and make a difference at all levels of government.”

For the 2020 election, 77.3 percent of MCCC’s total number of students were registered to vote, and 86.5 percent of the registered students voted.  

MCCC’s voting rate was 11 percent higher than the national average for two-year institutions. Approximately 66 percent of MCCC students voted in person, and 32 percent voted by mail or absentee ballot.