Stamps Faculty Launch New Voting Hubs at U-M

September 24, 2024

Two Voting Hubs designed to encourage voter participation, especially among students, are opening this fall at the University of Michigan.

This year marks the third election in which the Creative Campus Voting Project (CCVP) has partnered with the Ann Arbor City Clerk to create Voting Hubs on the University of Michigan’s campus where students can register, request and drop-off an absentee ballot, and/or cast their ballot in person during the new 9‑days of Early Voting.

Two women are standing next to each other in a room. Hannah Smotrich is holding a clipboard, and next to her is Stephanie Rowden who is wearing glasses. Both women are smiling. — CCVP founders and Stamps faculty members Hannah Smotrich and Stephanie Rowden. Photo credit: Michael Stephens, 2024.

The Hubs are located on Central Campus at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) which opens on September 24, and on North Campus at the Duderstadt Center Gallery on October 21.

The Voting Hubs were designed by Stamps Associate Professors Stephanie Rowden and Hannah Smotrich who are also the founders of CCVP. Their award-winning work has been recognized from such organizations as SEGD/Society for Environmental Graphic Design, Election Center/The National Association of Election Officials, the US Department of Education, and the Brennan Center for Justice.

At the 2024 Voting Hubs, visitors will find information and interactive displays, including:

Participatory Voting Map — Two huge felt maps of the United States and Michigan invite voters to place a pin where they plan to vote. A nearby tablet allows visitors to check their registration status and research state-specific voting deadlines. (Central Campus Voting Hub)

Ballot Explainer — A playful oversized Michigan ballot clarifies the structure of the ballot. Annotations offer clear, nonpartisan information about elected offices, judicial races, and proposals — as well as a friendly reminder that ballots are double-sided. (Central Campus and North Campus Voting Hub)

A group of six college-aged students gather around a large green felt map of the United States, which hangs on a light gray wall. Large white text above the map reads: “Voting?” One student places a small white pin into the section of the map that represents Colorado. — U‑M student voters place map pins where they plan to vote on a large felt “Participatory Voting Map” at the Campus Voting Hub (designed by the Creative Campus Voting Project at the University of Michigan Museum of Art). Photo credit: Stephanie Rowden, 2024

Announcement Board- A system of rotating placards offers key information about upcoming deadlines, events, and fun opportunities for voters; for example, National Voter Registration Day and the new 9 Days of Early Voting. (Central Campus Voting Hub)

A college-aged woman faces the camera smiling, Holding out a small pink folded paper Zine, entitled “I’m registered. Now what?” Behind her, a large green felt map of the United States and the State of Michigan hangs on the wall, stuck with small white pins in various locations. Large white text overhead reads, “Voting?” — A U‑M student holds a CCVP-designed Zine with key voting information in front of a “Participatory Voting Map” at the U‑M Central Campus Voting Hub (designed by the Creative Campus Voting Project at the University of Michigan Museum of Art). Photo credit: Stephanie Rowden, 2024

Voting Info Zines — A series of four playfully-illustrated DIY magazines (“zines”) presents need-to-know information for new student voters. The four-pack includes: “Voting 101,” “I’m Registered, Now What?”, “Know Your Ballot,” and “Voting out of State?” (Central Campus and North Campus Voting Hubs)

Button Mural / Photo Opp — A colorful “Vote 2024” mural composed of nearly 2,000 buttons welcomes students to the voting hub, and creates a celebratory backdrop. (Central Campus and North Campus Voting Hubs)

In addition, CCVP is launching a personality quiz — “What’s Your Voting Style?” — is a new digital tool to help students make a plan to register and vote. Students answer a series of questions that help them determine what voting plan best fits their “style.”

The CCVP is part of the university-wide initiative UMICH Votes, a non-partisan campus coalition whose mission is to improve the accessibility of voting, foster the confidence necessary to navigate the voting process successfully, and help students understand why their votes matter, for students of all three University of Michigan campuses. For more information on the Voting Hubs and other election details and for more on CCVP, follow them on Instagram.