My Davidson | A Student Blog My Work Getting Out the Vote at Davidson College
April 24, 2025
About the Author
Sophia Ludt '25 is a political science and sociology double major from Maryland. Outside of the classroom, she is involved with the Center for Political Engagement, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, Share-a-Square Crochet Club, Warner Hall Eating House, Club Volleyball, and the Smith Davidson Leadership Initiative.
"As a senior about to graduate, I’m in the process of interviewing for several positions and weighing opportunities in community organizing, paralegal work, and AmeriCorps service. My goal is to spend the next few years serving my community and developing professional skills before pursuing a legal career focused on civil rights and criminal justice reform. I’m excited for life after Davidson and hope to remain here in North Carolina!"
Over the fall semester, I dedicated more than 130 hours to registering, educating and mobilizing student voters.
As president of the Center for Political Engagement (CPE) and field director of the Davidson chapter of the Young People’s Alliance, I used every resource at my disposal to help students cast informed votes. In September and October, you could often find me at a voter registration table in the Alvarez College Union, talking with students and handing out nonpartisan voter guides for local North Carolina races.
Through frequent tabling and partnerships with Patterson Court Council (PCC) organizations, residence hall counselors, and student clubs, CPE registered 199 new voters and secured 304 pledge-to-vote signatures.
My favorite event, however, was our Shuttles to the Polls, where I drove students in our voter shuttle – a golf cart decked out in red, white and blue. For eight days during Early Voting and on Election Day, my CPE team transported student voters back and forth from our local polling station. In the end, Davidson was reportedly #1 in student voter turnout by percentage among all NC colleges and universities during Early Voting!
Through conversations with students, I have learned that political engagement work requires us to build trust, foster community and find shared values with our peers. Politics is personal to me, and I’ve seen that young people are ready to become the next generation of leaders and changemakers. At Davidson, there are so many opportunities for students to get involved in partisan and nonpartisan political engagement – one just needs to take initiative and speak up for the things they believe in!
