Since 2015, the University of Tennessee and the University of Florida have taken their infamous rivalry off the football field and into the political arena. UT’s voter registration initiative, also known as the #VolsVote campaign, allows students to check their registration status, register to vote and sign up for election reminders, all while participating in a friendly competition.

“They tend to ignore you if you don’t vote, so you need to have the voting numbers up,” said Troy Goodale, a professor at the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs who specializes in American government, politics and elections.

With the election in less than 55 days, UT is doing its part to ensure that every student has the necessary resources to cast their ballot.

“There’s so much information to help you feel comfortable about registering to vote and everything surrounding going to cast a vote,” Goodale said. “There’s a lot of good information there and having that in one repository, one website, is good stuff.”

Students who complete all three steps qualify as participants in the voter engagement competition between the two universities.

“I think it’s important to voice your opinion,” said UT student Ellie Arnold. “It’s a good idea for everyone to vote, and I don’t think there’s enough people that are our age (who) do.”

The competition is a result of hard work on behalf of UT’s Student Government Association, the Institute of American Civics and the Vols Vote Coalition.

“I have too strong of an opinion to not use my vote,” said sophomore Gavin Gajjar.

The VolsVote initiative aims to remove barriers for students like Gajjar who come to Knoxville from other states but still desire to have their voice heard.

“A lot of the more local offices don’t tend to matter as much to students until they get into life situations and experiences,” Goodale said. “I’m trying to help on the front end, saying, ‘Look, these things are really important.’”

The voter registration initiative and the support of professors across campus are working together to increase voter turnout among UT students.

“By participating, you’re not only supporting UT in this challenge but also contributing to a larger movement towards increased voter participation and civic responsibility,” said SGA Student Body President Dante Grayson in an interview with WVLT.

“We want to show that Vol Nation’s spirit extends beyond the football field.”

The competition began Aug. 26 and runs through Oct. 7.

Weekly updates can be found on the Vols Vote portion of the University of Tennessee’s website, complete with a leaderboard and a countdown clock.

Vol Nation is up against some stiff competition with UF being named among America’s best colleges for student voting by the Washington Monthly, a nonprofit magazine focused on covering politics and government in the U.S. However, UT was recognized by Secretary of State Tre Hargett for its participation in the Tennessee College Voter Registration Competition.

UT accepted the award for Most Creative Voter Registration Campaign in January of 2023. 

Students are not the only ones eligible to participate. Any member of Vol Nation, including faculty, staff and alumni are welcome to complete the necessary steps to get UT one step closer to victory.

The winner of the competition is expected to be announced ahead of the Tennessee vs. Florida game Oct. 12.

This article was produced in conjunction with Melanie Faizer’s JREM 240: Title Multimedia Reporting class.