With “I voted” stickers proudly displayed, University of Mary Washington students spent Election Day making their voices heard. Throughout the crisp fall day, the red Fredericksburg trolley shuttled between UMW’s campus and the city’s Dorothy Hart Community Center filled with students ready to cast their ballots and take part in a campus tradition of civic engagement.
The trolley rides were part of a full slate of Election Day activities coordinated through Mary Washington’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE) by UMW Votes. The nonpartisan program, which earned Mary Washington a “Voter Friendly Campus” designation for 2025-26, helps students become informed, empowered participants in the democratic system.
“Our goal is to make voting accessible, exciting and educational,” said CCE Director Sarah Dewees. “We want every student to know their vote, and their voice, matters.”
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., volunteers staffed tables outside George Washington Hall, offering nonpartisan sample ballots and voting information, plus free stickers, buttons, doughnuts and coffee to anyone stopping by. The transportation was provided by Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg and funded this year by Every Vote Counts, a national nonpartisan, student-led organization dedicated to increasing voter access.
First-year psychology major Zenith Nolan was among the many who caught a ride. “It’s fun to be involved in the community,” she said. “And voting really does make a difference.”
Among those greeting voters on campus were first-year student volunteers Zoe Rapp and Finley Jones. A double major in philosophy and law and American studies, Rapp said she was inspired to continue the civic mission she began as a poll worker in her home state of Colorado.
“I grew up learning about how important voting is,” said Rapp, whose parents met while attending Mary Washington. “Being here and helping fellow students find their polling place or answering questions about voting feels like I’m part of something meaningful.”
Jones, who plans to major in political science, said the best part about volunteering was connecting with others. “It’s fun to meet new people and feel like you’re making a difference,” he said. A high school attendee of Virginia Boys State, a summer civics program that teaches students about government, Jones relished the opportunity to share his passion for civic engagement with classmates.
This year’s event was part of the sixth annual Day on Democracy, a tradition started at UMW and now recognized nationwide by many universities and colleges. The initiative allows for the cancellation of most lecture classes on Election Day to give students opportunities to get to the polls or volunteer with campus clubs and programs.
While hundreds of students took the trolley throughout the day, others drove home to vote in their local precincts or mailed absentee ballots weeks in advance. Those who stayed on campus used the extra time to volunteer or cheer on classmates, some who were voting for the first time. Across Campus Walk, student organizations such as the College Republicans and Young Democrats staffed tables near James Farmer Hall, handing out information, stickers and other freebies while encouraging discussion and participation.
“Even if you’re not at the polls, you’re still part of the excitement of the day,” said Abigail McKay, a sophomore studio art and psychology double major from Fairfax who voted absentee. “Voting is really important and it’s encouraging to see so many Mary Washington students care about it.”
Learn more about Mary Washington’s Center for Community Engagement and how UMW Votes supports the development of skills and knowledge needed for engaged citizenship.
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