ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – As part 1 of the #MACunited series, Uplifting Your Voice is designed to encourage voter registration and educated participation in the weeks leading up to the November elections. The Middle Atlantic Conferences encourages student-athletes, coaches, and administrators to be engaged and informed about the democratic process and #BringYourVote to the polls.

The Middle Atlantic Conference voting initiative seeks to:

• Encourage voter registration and participation
• Provide information and educate on the importance of voter participation
• Increase civic engagement

The educational piece will include speaker Zach Kancher with the SAVE Alliance (Student-Athlete Voter Engagement), a non-partisan voter education platform designed specifically for student-athletes and coaches. Zach will speak to student-athletes, coaches, and administrators about the voting prcoess, absentee voting, electoral college, and making voting personal. Session is open to current student-athletes, coaches, and administrators in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Contact your athletic department for registration information.

Information on the #MACunited series.

Voter Registration and Participation

Vote411	Register to vote, check registration status, find information for who is on the ballot in your state, and a first time voter checklist
USA Gov: How to Vote	Find information on absentee and early voting, along with who can and can't vote in U.S. elections
Campus Vote Project	Resources designed specifically for students to reduce barriers to student voting and how to vote in each state
866 Our Vote	Information on voting, polls, rules, and important dates for your state
Voteology	Compare where your vote matters most when comparing your school and home address created by students for students
TurboVote	Set election reminders, register to vote, and apply for an absentee ballot

Education on Candidates and Issues 

First Time Voter Guide	Information on the voting process including voting rights, choosing a party, voting myths and facts, and voting away from home
Vote Smart	Guides the user through the various issues for both presidential and congressional candidates to align with the user with their choices
Voting By The Issues	Breaks down each party's platform on various issues including foreign policy, immigration, healthcare, environment, racial justice, and more
Ballotopedia	Up to date information on national and state elections, candidates, and ballot measures
2020 Political Parties Guide	An easy to understand voter guide to the various political parties compiled by the League of Women Voters

Civic Engagement

Becoming a poll worker	Become a volunteer or paid (depending on the area) poll worker at a polling location near you! - 866 Our Vote: How to Become a Poll Worker or Election Official - Power the Polls - US Election Assistance Commission
Supporting candidates in other ways	There are many ways other than voting to support the candidates that you are passionate about. Check out the Federal Election Commission website to learn more about various opportunities including campaigning, volunteering, and more.
Volunteering in protests and rallies	If you are someone who wants to become more active in rallies, there are a variety of ways to do so, including donating your time by volunteering at an event or other resources. These opportunities will differ from community to community. Wilderness.org gives great tips on how to be successful in your involvement before, during, and after the rally.

Other Resources

Voting 101	Breaks down voting and terminology to better understand the importance of voting
Voter Registration Deadlines	Swipe through to see each state's voter registration deadlines

ABOUT THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
Located in Annville, Pa., the Middle Atlantic Conference is an NCAA Division III conference comprised of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) and Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom).

Its 18 member institutions, located across three states, are: Albright College (Reading, Pa.), Alvernia University (Reading, Pa.), Arcadia University (Glenside, Pa.), Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pa.), DeSales University (Center Valley, Pa.), Eastern University (St. Davids, Pa.), Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus (Madison, N.J.), Hood College (Frederick, Md.), King's College (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), Lebanon Valley College (Annville, Pa.), Lycoming College (Williamsport, Pa.), Messiah University (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Misericordia University (Dallas, Pa.), Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, N.J.), Stevenson University (Owings Mills, Md.), Widener University (Chester, Pa.) and Wilkes University (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), and York College of Pennsylvania (York, Pa.).

The MAC currently sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports that compete in the NCAA Division III. More than 7,000 student-athletes participate in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's golf, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track & field, softball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's volleyball and wrestling.