As we approach a critical election, two soccer players at Swarthmore College, Lila Travers ’26 and myself, have launched an ambitious campaign to ensure that every athlete on campus is registered to vote. With Pennsylvania, a swing state in the 2024 presidential election, often playing a decisive role in national elections, this initiative fights to preserve the integrity of American democracy.
The athletic voting campaign aims to encourage civic participation within Swarthmore’s athletic community. Our passions for sports and social responsibility have driven us to unite athletes across campus, underscoring the importance of making our voices heard in this pivotal election cycle.
The beginning of the project began by reaching out to Swarthmore athletic department leaders. We first spoke with Brad Koch, the head of our athletic department, and Val Gomez, associate director of athletics, because we wanted to see if we could lead a campaign similar to those created by other bigger colleges. After they both supported the idea, we began brainstorming the initiative. We asked one representative from each sports team to give us the registered percentage of their squad. We later asked Matt Mizanin, director of athletic communications, to create polls, posts, and stories on social media to generate attention. Once we gathered key information, we reached out to athletic teams, including our own, to fully register every athlete that could vote. We guided teams through the registration process and the different types of ways to vote.
This initiative is about using the platform we have as athletes to do something that reaches beyond the field. We recognize the impact athletes can hold within the campus community, as we make up almost a quarter of our school’s population, and want to channel that into something meaningful.
Why Pennsylvania Matters
Pennsylvania has long been considered a battleground state, often swinging key elections. With national attention once again focused on its electorate, the stakes are high. Lila and I understand this, which is why we have specifically targeted Swarthmore’s student-athletes about voter registration.
“We know that historically, young people turn out to vote in smaller numbers. Having noticed the work that SwatVotes does on campus, we wanted to make sure the resources reached the athletics community,” says Lila.
Pennsylvania is a pivotal state, and we have a civic duty to show up at the polls. We’re not just students; we’re residents of a state that can influence the direction of the entire country. Some athletes have changed their registration and some are still voting in their own states. Regardless of where they are voting, we hope that every eligible student will register and vote in this upcoming election.
Uniting Athletes Across Teams
Besides registering voters, this initiative is also about building a culture of civic engagement within the athletic community. Lila and I have collaborated with team captains or representatives from all varsity sports teams on campus, including basketball, volleyball, and cross country, to spread the word and facilitate voter registration sessions.
We’re hoping that the competitive spirit that drives us in sports will also drive us to take action in this election. Every vote counts, especially in a swing state like Pennsylvania.
Future-Oriented Thinking
With less than a month until the election, Lila and I are committed to making a tangible impact on the future and meaning of democracy. While our primary goal is to get every eligible athlete on campus registered, we also hope this campaign will inspire others to engage in civic action beyond this election. We want this to become part of the culture here. Voting should be a team effort.
