Edited release
02/17/26
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and representatives from Iowa colleges and universities are launching a new statewide voter registration initiative aimed at increasing voter participation among Iowa’s youth voters. The Catt Collegiate Challenge will work with post-secondary institutions across the state to host voter registration drives and promote healthy competition among Iowa campuses.
Participating Iowa institutions will track registration and turnout data in partnership with third-party organizations, and those that excel will be honored with a trophy and award presentation by Secretary Pate at the annual Voter Engagement Summit hosted in Des Moines.
The Catt Collegiate Challenge builds on Iowa’s Carrie Chapman Catt Award program, which recognizes Iowa high schools that register eligible students to vote. Both programs are named after Iowa’s Carrie Chapman Catt, a key leader in the national suffrage movement from Charles City, Iowa.
As of the launch, 11 Iowa schools have pledged to participate. They include Coe College, Cornell College, Grand View University, Grinnell College, Iowa State University, Kirkwood Community College, Loras College, Luther College, Northeast Iowa Community College, University of Dubuque, and the University of Northern Iowa.
More information about the Catt Collegiate Challenge is available below.
https://sos.iowa.gov/students/catt-collegiate-challenge?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery