Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Administrators Restrict Election Activities on Campuses Statewide

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, FIRE and 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