Connecticut College had 77% voter participation for the 2020 election.

Conn's 17% increase in voter participation from 2016 to 2020 is indicative of "record-breaking" student voter participation rates throughout the country, according to a report from the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education.

Turnout among students — the institute's dataset is comprised of 8,880,700 students who could vote among 1,051 colleges and universities — increased 14% to 66% this year.

In a news release on Monday, Conn attributed the high voter participation rate among its student body to efforts such as the 2020 ALL IN to Vote challenge, where schools competed to get as many students to pledge to vote as possible. Also a factor was the Camels Vote effort, "a nonpartisan civic engagement initiative operated through the Holleran Center, which seeks to increase students' understanding of democracy, civic engagement and voting processes," according to the release. Alumni Jozette Moses and Julia O'Connell launched the initiative in 2020.

"Voting is one of our most precious rights," Conn President Katherine Bergeron said in the release. "We are proud that our students take seriously their role as active citizens of our democracy, which is reflected in our stellar voter participation record."

Overall turnout among Connecticut voters in the 2020 election was almost 80% compared to 77% in 2016.