Ahead of Pennsylvania’s voter registration deadline on Oct. 20, The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with student groups on campus about their plans and goals for the 2025 general election.
The groups — Penn Democrats, Penn College Republicans, and Penn Leads the Vote — emphasized the importance of civic engagement ahead of this year’s election. Despite the off-year cycle, clubs reported seeing higher membership numbers and hope for increased engagement across the broader University community.
College sophomore and PLTV spokesperson Juliana Li told the DP that the club was focusing on voter registration and education ahead of the election.
On National Voter Registration Day, which was on Sept. 16, the club — a student-run, nonpartisan organization that works to increase voter and civic engagement on campus — tabled on Locust Walk and registered over 300 voters. Previously, the club has also held cookouts with campus fraternities in order to execute its mission.
“You do need to use these innovative ways to get people engaged — and to lean on [your] community and other organizations, and as a way to help,” Li told the DP.
Li added that creating communities increases voter efficacy.
“If you think of yourself as one singular voter, you’re not going to think you have that much efficacy. But once you think of yourself in a group, you obviously become a lot more powerful,” she said.
Nursing sophomore and Penn Dems spokesperson Kayla Mengden told the DP that much of Penn Dems’ strategy this semester revolves around phone banking and canvassing efforts. She emphasized the importance of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court race in particular, as it could have “impacts on abortion access or redistricting.”
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College senior and College Republicans spokesperson Peter Kapp told the DP that College Republicans is working to elect Patrick Dugan, the Republican candidate for Philadelphia District Attorney; Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate for New Jersey’s gubernatorial election; and several Republican candidates for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The group plans on door-knocking in New Jersey for Chittarelli.
Kapp outlined the club’s central topics in this election cycle, including public safety, “immigration issues” and “budgetary concerns.”
According to Mengden, Penn Dems will be traveling to Charlottesville, Va., on Oct. 25 to canvass for multiple candidates, including Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s gubernatorial election.
Mengden added that the club has been phone banking on Tuesdays for its endorsed candidates.
“A lot of times [the individual] doesn’t answer, or they hang up really fast,” Mengden said. “But every so often, you'll get someone [and] you say, ‘There’s an election,’ and they say, ‘Oh, great. How do I vote? Where do I go?’ That’s nice, to get someone who really cares and you can genuinely help.”
Mengden underscored the importance of the Nov. 4 election in particular.
“Last fall, we had a big presidential election, and that’s where most of our voters tend to go out and vote,” Mengden said. “But there’s also local elections, like the ones for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to retain our judges, and those are really important. They often have lower voter turnout, which means that your vote can be even more powerful. [While] millions of people vote in the presidential election, local races tend to have way less turnout.”
In his interview with the DP, Kapp concurred.
“We strongly believe that even in the off years, it’s so critical that people get out and vote,” he said. “These local elections are the ones that impact your day-to-day lives and the world [around you]. Every person’s involvement and vote makes a huge difference. Voting is a privilege and a duty, and College Republicans [is] super excited to be at the forefront of mobilizing that vote.”
Li said that PLTV’s role was different this year due to the off-year election season, mentioning the group’s focus on “helping the student body understand what it means to be constantly civically engaged.”
Despite differences in strategy and engagement compared with previous years, all groups said that their memberships remained high — a reality which Li characterized as “empowering.”
“A lot of times, at Penn, it’s easy to feel small in your bubble and your specific community,” Li admitted. “But being a part of PLTV made me realize that we have a say in these elections — which, beyond being important, is just so so cool.”
The last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Oct. 20. Election day will take place on Nov. 4.
