Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Administrators Restrict Election Activities on Campuses Statewide
Cases
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Case Overview
In October 2024, students and student organizations at dozens of colleges and universities throughout Pennsylvania reported administrators had restricted them from engaging in election activities, including registering voters and canvassing on their campuses. On October 30, FIREand the ACLU of Pennsylvania wrote to 28 public colleges and universities in Pennsylvania explaining that voter engagement activities before an election are core political speech protected by the First Amendment, and restrictions that treat election-related expression differently from other expression are unconstitutional. (The same letter was sent to all 28 institutions. The letter addressed to Shippensburg University is provided here as a model.)
Recipients:
Cheyney University
Commonwealth University
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Lincoln University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Western University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University
Temple University
University of Pittsburgh
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Bucks County Community College
Butler County Community College
Community College of Allegheny County
Community College of Beaver County
Community College of Philadelphia
Delaware County Community College
Erie County Community College
Harrisburg Area Community College
Lehigh Carbon Community College
Luzerne County Community College
Montgomery County Community College
Northampton Community College
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College