According to a National study a university initiative to encourage more Winthrop University students to vote in last years election worked.
According to the study, Winthrop student voter turnout was up nearly 5 percent from the previous election in 2012. The National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement through Tufts University, showed Winthrop student voter turnout at 58.1 percent surpassing the national average by 7.7 percent.
Winthrop has participated in the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement project since 2012 and is among more than 1,000 institutions to participate.
The national average for all 18-24 year olds was 43 percent. Karen Kedrowski, political science professor and executive director of the university’s new Center for Civic Learning said Winthrop can use the 2016 voter results to help set goals for 2018 and 2020 elections.
She expects the university will continue participation with the Voter Friendly Campus Initiative and the All In Campus Democracy Challenge.