‘Register, research, vote’

For Political Science and English Literature major Byran Whitehead ’25, the student-led organization Bulldogs Vote can be broken down into three words, “Register, research, vote.”

In addition to holding titles with other organizations including president of the Black Student Union, Byran is a leader in Bulldogs Vote, the on-campus voter registration group dedicated to the civic engagement and education. With one week until election day, education and encouragement around voting has become paramount.

“Bulldogs Vote has helped in increasing registration numbers at the University of Redlands, but its greatest effort is education,” Byran said. By providing a guide to California propositions, Byran has been able to educate his fellow Bulldogs before they head to the polls. “I hope we continue an impact of education both before, during, and beyond the election.”

Bulldogs Vote is part of the Civic Engagement Collective, a team of mentors led by Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Sandy Vasquez, and composed of U of R students, faculty, and staff that fosters engagement in the political process through free expression, critical thinking, and civil discourse through resources and events. Collective member and Assistant Director of Student Involvement Jillian Strong has seen the positive impact of the collective through efforts like the Ballot Bowl and Student Vote Project, which aimed to increase student participation in civic engagement. 

“I hope students see how broad and impactful civic engagement can be,” Strong said. “It's more than just voting in an election, it's doing service for our community, participating in a protest, sitting in on a city council meeting, teaching your peers about global issues, and more! Our students are so passionate about so many issues, I know they'll ultimately take what they learn during their time at Redlands and take it with them into their communities to ultimately leave it better than how they found it.”

In addition to educating Bulldogs, the Collective is focused on various events, like Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day. Held this year on September 17, the event brought students, faculty, and staff together in Hunsaker Plaza, as they took turns reading the United States Constitution. 

“We do it [reading the Constitution] to pay a little closer attention to our shared commitment,” Political Science Professor Renee Van Vechten said. “To democratic values, some of which were not expressed in the document initially, but which have evolved over the years.”

Along with reading the Constitution, students and faculty were able to register to vote. Adelaide Hubble ’27 who assisted with voter registration and handing out copies of the Constitution, shared that it’s good for "students to know what's in the governing document of our country, and in such a public way like this is important so they can see that this is a pivotal moment for our country.” 

As Election Day approaches, Bulldogs are continually being encouraged to make their voices heard at the polls.

“Voting is a way for the community to have their experiences be heard and influenced,” Strong said. “It's a way to advocate for our community's needs, both locally and nationally. It's more than just voting for community members to represent your neighborhood, state, or country- it's also around policies that can impact your daily lives. This includes matters to education, work, neighborhood improvement, and more.”

Learn more about the Civic Engagement Committee.