ABSTRACT
Looking back now, the fall 2020 NYU Votes promotional campaign felt like it unfolded in a somewhat linear and logical manner. As the election drew nearer, people began to hear more and more that students were experiencing heightened anxiety related to the rhetoric around them and in the news—and deep concern about Election Day itself—as threats of violence and chaos circulated. As a result, they at NYU Votes found themselves promoting wellness services almost in equal measure to voting resources and watched the community rally to keep students safe, focused, and informed during such a turbulent time. This chapter provides an overview of the ways in which people planned for this likely occurrence, but also how they responded when more than a few election surprises emerged. NYU expanded outward in 2020, into the network of student voting initiatives that has begun connecting campuses across the country.
