WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — This past week, members of Hartford's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) partnered with the America East to hold the "All IN" pledge, a challenge dedicated to encouraging students to vote in the upcoming presidential election. 

"For myself, this is something that means a lot, because although I was taught from a young age that voting is important, these recent years have taught me just how important voting really is," said Hartford SAAC Chair of Civic Engagement Russell Johnson. "As citizens of the United States, voting is not only our constitutional right, it's our voice. I'm proud to be a part of something that is much larger than myself and to be able to reach as many people as possible."

All IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a national awards program. By recognizing colleges and universities for their commitment to increasing student voting rates, the Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, encouraging them to vote.

The America East recently partnered with the All IN Campus Democracy Challenge to encourage its schools to get involved with the process. The America East is encouraging its institutions to compete to engage both student-athletes and the general student body in the voting process by working to have them pledge to vote, learn about positions and issues on their ballot and having them create a plan to vote safely and successfully. Student-athletes will be empowered to increase peer voter engagement through meaningful and impactful initiatives developed and implemented in collaboration with their campus communities.

Hartford SAAC was able to amass over 80 pledges for the event. For those that missed the event and would still like to pledge to vote as part of the America East All IN Challenge, click HERE.