Sorensen Announces Investments to Support Election Integrity

ROCKFORD, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) are announcing $4,950 for Rockford University to help recruit and train college students as non-partisan poll workers. 

“Poll workers have a huge impact on your community, and we need to make sure young people are connected to these opportunities to serve,” said Sorensen. “This funding will give our college students the chance to participate in the election process while making it easier for our neighbors to cast their ballots. I am so proud of the Rockford University for receiving this award and I look forward to seeing our college students help at the polls this year.” 

“The Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement is honored to receive this federal grant in support of our efforts to promote civic engagement. With a central aim of educating our campus community about the importance of being civically engaged and working for social justice, the Jane Addams Center advances the ideals of Rockford University through the study and practice of citizenship, service, and lifelong learning. Receiving a Service Day Mini-Grant will help us build stronger programming on the importance of civic engagement and begin building content for a new Civic Engagement Resource page for our website,” said Dr. Mary Weaks-Baxter, Director of the Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement.

This award comes from the EAC as part of the Help America Vote College Program (HAVCP), which allows eligible entities to recruit university and college students in the administration of state and local elections. The funding will allow Rockford University’s Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement to connect students with resources on National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on August 1, 2024. 

Across the country, $1 million in awards were recently authorized by Congress for this purpose under the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which Sorensen helped pass.

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. 

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