Kayley Bell, a rising junior majoring in political science, never expected the profound impact civic education would have on her college experience. Despite her current involvement in various political pursuits, it wasn’t until her junior year of high school that Bell discovered her passion for history and politics.
While attending Sturgeon Bay High School, Bell was inspired by her history teacher Brock Blahnik, who taught Modern European history and American studies.
“Seeing his passion and enthusiasm for the subject, along with his care for students, made politics and history something to be excited about,” says Bell.
Bell’s engagement in the YMCA Youth and Government education program allowed her to participate in a model government, where she was able to hone her public speaking skills and learn about parliamentary procedures and government policies.
“Working with people to draft bills and learn about state politics, especially as a young adult, was really awesome,” says Bell.
Bell’s involvement in politics has not declined since high school; rather, it has flourished.
In her freshman year of college, Bell transitioned from being a participant in the YMCA Youth and Government program to serving as an advisor. This year she worked as a democracy fellow for the Campus Vote Project, BadgersVote co-lead intern and chief inspector at the Madison City Clerk’s Office.
Alongside her other responsibilities, Bell will serve on the Student Advisory Board of the Fair Election Center’s Campus Vote Project for the 2024-25 term. She is also transitioning into the role of civic education intern at the Morgridge Center for Public Service and serving as the finance chair of UW-Madison’s Student Voters Union. Bell’s first-hand involvement in a Madison government office, non-profit organizations and campus activities, continuously motivates her to expand voter education to ensure people’s concerns are effectively conveyed to government officials and campus administrators.
“My passion for civic engagement derives from the fact that I believe it’s really important that every eligible voter is able to make their voice heard and that they are able to participate in the political system,” says Bell.
When asked about her experience as a chief inspector, Bell describes how she had originally started as an election official but was encouraged to become a chief inspector after an official from the City Clerk’s Office observed her resolve an accessibility concern at her polling station.
Bell believes that her role at the City Clerk’s Office has offered her valuable hands-on experience, increasing her confidence in educating the student body about elections and general civic engagement.
“While BadgersVote itself doesn’t do voter registration, we do it through our community partners, such as the League of Women Voters of Dane County, the Andrew Goodman Foundation and the Campus Vote Project,” says Bell. “Now that I’m city clerk-trained, I can work voter registration tables with my eyes closed. That’s been really, really helpful.”
As a democracy fellow and BadgersVote co-lead intern this past year, Bell advanced civic education on campus by creating informative infographics and flyers to raise awareness about upcoming elections. However, Bell feels most fulfilled when she can directly engage with students, guiding and motivating them to participate in civic affairs.
“I’ve had a lot of opportunities to interact with students, whether it be tabling or people reaching out to us over social media, I’ve been able to help people understand election procedure,” says Bell.
While Bell finds joy in educating people about election processes, she equally prioritizes offering nonpartisan political advice, even in casual conversations with friends and family.
“I want to provide neutral, holistic information and let people come to their own conclusions,” says Bell. “My mom called me about the spring referendum, and I was able to explain the language to her in a more user-friendly way, and the implications it could have from an objective standpoint.”
Bell takes pride in her ability to provide individuals with neutral guidance. She recognizes the importance of having a nonpartisan stance when educating people about political affairs.
“Something that’s really important to me is being truly neutral because when you genuinely want to help someone construct their own political opinions, you shouldn’t have a personal agenda you are trying to push onto others, and that’s something I feel I’ve done a really good job of in the last few years of working in nonpartisan civic engagement,” Bell states.
Bell’s nonpartisan political efforts have not gone unnoticed, as she was one of 137 students recognized by the ALL In Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) for their diligence in making voting and civic learning more pervasive on campus.
The ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll recognizes students at participating campuses who advance nonpartisan student democratic engagement, including voter registration and civic education.
Bell credits much of her success to Amanjot Kaur, Shelby Fosco, Kristin Hansen and the BadgersVote team, who continuously support her civic endeavors.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Bell urges students to vote ahead of time and serve as poll workers if they are able. While any sort of help is appreciated, Bell believes that the polling place appears more accessible and inclusive when staff members share a similar background to the voters. In her own experience, students serving as poll workers would also be beneficial because they are more attuned to issues that pertain to students.
“It’s one of those things where the more you do it, the easier it gets. I would encourage any student who desires to become a poll worker to do it because it’s a great thing to know,” says Bell. “The Madison City Clerk’s Office does a wonderful job of making it easy.”