Yale Democracy Project

Mission

Yale Democracy Project is a non-partisan, student-led organization that promotes voter turnout on campus by helping students vote, encouraging civic dialogue, and making Yale an easy place to cast a ballot. We build a community where students inspire each other to engage with the issues they care about by participating in our democracy, both in the classroom and at the polls.

Student Leaders

Sofia Beck – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Dayne Neff – Co-Coordinator/Co-President

Activities

Presidential Debate Watch Party Direct Service On September 10, Yale Votes held a watch party in SSS Auditorium for the presidential debate, featuring food and drinks for registered Yale students and faculty. A table in the lobby offered guests the chance to register to vote or request their absentee ballot during commercial breaks. The event was a huge success, with over 400 attendees and a feature in the Yale Daily News. General Tabling Events Direct Service Yale Votes sets up tables outside popular locations on campus such as Beinecke Plaza and Cross Campus where we personally help students register to vote, request absentee ballots, or have voting questions answered. Buttery Nights Direct Service One of Yale Votes’ most popular staple events, Buttery Nights are fast-paced events where Yale Votes members pay for students’ buttery orders in exchange for their completion of a voter registration or absentee ballot request form. Civic Viewing Series: The 74th Inauguration Advocacy or Activism Yale Votes hosted an Inauguration Watch Party to bring together students from across campus to witness a pivotal moment in American democracy. The event provided a space for discussion and reflection as attendees watched the swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address. The event encouraged meaningful dialogue about the role of leadership, governance, and the democratic process, reinforcing Yale Votes? mission to promote civic awareness and participation among students. Civic Viewing Series: Yale Law School Professor Speaker Event Advocacy or Activism Yale Votes is hosting a Civic Viewing Series event featuring a Yale Law School professor to discuss the intersection of law and civic engagement. The event will include an expert lecture, an interactive Q&A session, and opportunities for community dialogue on constitutional rights, voting, and public policy. Civic Viewing Series: The 2025 State of the Union Address Advocacy or Activism Building on the success of our Inauguration viewing, Yale Votes will host a similar event for the upcoming State of the Union address and rebuttal. This event will provide students with the opportunity to engage with key policy discussions, hear directly from the President, and analyze both the address and the response from the Democratic Party. Our goal is to create a space for thoughtful discussion and civic engagement, reinforcing Yale Votes? commitment to promoting civic awareness and participation on campus. Votechella Advocacy or Activism At the start of the semester, the Yale Democracy Project hosted a “Votechella” event following the First-Year Extracurricular Bazaar. As students left the bazaar, we registered first-years to vote on Cross Campus while creating a fun and welcoming environment with free lemonade, cookies, and music from student DJs. The event combined celebration with civic action, making voter registration approachable and engaging for new students, many of whom were arriving at Yale just as they became newly eligible to vote. Election Year Tabling Events Advocacy or Activism Yale Democracy Project will be tabling for voter registration at various locations to build awareness of voting registration at Yale. YDP has been “touring” different locations on campus, and tabling is essential to our mission. We also answer questions about voting (especially absentee ballots). We are a resource for students who may find voting a confusing or opaque process. Tabling is very important for our visibility. To draw students, we would like to offer food from local New Haven restaurants which have previously been very popular. Tiny Mic Interviews Advocacy or Activism Featuring prominent Yale figures such as President Maurie McInnis and Dean Pericles Lewis, we connect with students and staff throughout the year to hear about their experiences with civic participation at Yale. Vice Presidential Debate Watch Party Advocacy or Activism After the enormous success of our presidential debate watch party, we are preparing a watch party for the vice presidential debate (the final debate of this election year) in SSS Auditorium with food and drinks for all student and community attendees. Postcard Writing Advocacy or Activism We invite students to write postcards encouraging relatives and neighbors to vote. Civic Viewing Series: The 2026 State of the Union Advocacy or Activism Yale Democracy Project will be hosting a viewing on the night of February 24th to watch the State of the Union. This will be a smaller-scale event than our debate viewing series, but we still want to create an exciting atmosphere for students who turn up. Yale Democracy Project x Spring Fling Voter Registration Raffle Advocacy or Activism In the week leading up to Spring Fling, YDP will have a voter engagement table where students can register to vote, check their registration status, and learn about upcoming local and state elections after they receive their Spring Fling tickets. To further encourage participation, we are hosting a raffle with prizes for students who register or pledge to vote, if eligible. Local New Haven businesses and larger corporations are donating gift cards and products as prizes. Last year we had roughly 2,000 students participate, and given our increased presence on campus we anticipate a significant uptick in participants. “I Voted” Sticker Contest Advocacy or Activism Yalies are invited to submit original artwork to be featured on the Yale Democracy Project’s ?I Voted? sticker for the 2026 midterm elections. Students will vote to select their favorite Yale-themed design, which will be distributed during the midterm election. Gift cards will be awarded to the top submissions, which may include cards from local New Haven businesses and larger corporations. First place will receive $75, second place $15, and third place $10. Cookies & Conversation Social/Cultural/Team-Building Cookies & Conversations is a nonpartisan dialogue-based event designed to bring first-year students together in a relaxed, welcoming environment to discuss civic and political issues. With free cookies to create a casual atmosphere, students are encouraged to engage in respectful conversation, ask questions, and share perspectives. The event provides an opportunity for students new to campus to bring insights from across the country and around the world, fostering informed dialogue and building community through shared civic learning.

How Others Get Involved

We meet every Tuesday from 6:45-8:00 in the Hopper Parlor room. Individuals can be added to our mailing list be reaching out to yaledemocracyproject@gmail.com.