UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — More than a dozen students from the College of the Liberal Arts did more than just vote on Election Day — they spent the day engaging in exit polling, talking with Centre County voters about their election choices, the health of American democracy and more.

The exit polling was led by Justin Crofoot, McCourtney Institute for Democracy undergraduate coordinator and assistant teaching professor of political science. Crofoot and 16 students visited nine polling places throughout Centre County to talk with nearly 800 voters about their voting decisions, what issues were most important to them and their attitudes toward democracy and civic engagement. 

Crofoot said exit polling data will be used to research political attitudes among Centre County voters, teach students how to analyze survey data and provide opportunities for the McCourtney Institute for Democracy to engage with the community about the topics most important to them.

"Considering how significant this election was, it was a good opportunity to gain a better understanding of how voters in Centre County feel about the candidates and policy issues," Crofoot said. "In my classes there was a lot of interest in the election, and I think opportunities like this are very valuable for students to engage with democracy and gain a better understanding of our electoral system."

According to the American Association for Public Opinion Research, the practice of exit polling dates back to the 1970s, when TV news networks began surveying voters as they left their polling places on Election Day. The goal is to shed light on why people voted the way they did and identify trends that might have been missed in pre-election polling to gain a fuller picture of the American electorate. 

Emily Danczyk, a third-year student studying political science and media studies, said she was excited to take part in the project but nervous about potential negative reactions from voters when asked to complete a survey. However, she said those concerns dissipated within the first 30 minutes at her assigned precinct in Patton Township.

“I expected voters to be closed off or reluctant to participate, but the reality was the complete opposite,” Danczyk said. “Everyone was incredibly cordial and enthusiastic, from first-time voters to busses of retirees. My research partner and I even made a trip back to campus to obtain more copies of the survey because so many wanted to participate.”

Beyond gathering data on voter preferences, exit polling also provided an opportunity for students to interact with members of the community they might not otherwise meet during their time at Penn State.

“Once voters realized that we were political science students, even those who didn’t participate in the survey stuck around to ask us questions about democracy and politics,” Danczyk said. “Being able to talk to these voters was the most valuable part of my experience. It reaffirmed my motivations for studying political science and the idea that every person can have productive conversations about politics.”

Connor McMahon, a second-year student majoring in political science, spent the day at the Centre Region Active Adult Center in the Nittany Mall. Like Danczyk, he found the interactions with community members to be positive and appreciated the opportunity to engage in dialogue across the political spectrum.

“This was the first presidential election where I could vote, but I wanted to go a step farther and do something that allowed me to be more immersed in the election in a non-partisan way,” McMahon said. “It was really cool to see people from both sides express interest in our work and take the time to fill out the survey to help with our research. It was really rewarding to receive compliments for the work we were doing.”

Lily Sabine, a fourth-year political science major, said she appreciated the opportunity to get out of what she described as the “echo chamber” of living on a college campus where many of her friends share the same attitudes and opinions. She conducted exit polling at Park Forest Baptist Church in Patton Township.

“It was so valuable to gain perspective by speaking with members of the year-round community in State College, and hearing their unique opinions on issues informed by their experiences and position in life was eye-opening,” Sabine said. “It was so rewarding to feel like I was contributing to a process that helps shape public understanding and political discourse.”

Kaylah Tengeya, a fourth-year political science major also appreciated the opportunity to see a different part of Centre County and conduct civil discourse outside the classroom. She and her research partner collected more than 100 surveys at the Benner South precinct in Bellefonte.

"I’m not sure I had ever been to Bellefonte before, despite being a senior at Penn State," Tengeya said."It was amazing to engage with people who weren't primarily Penn State students or faculty. I also appreciated the opportunity to face potential rejection. Experiences like that teach you not to take rejections personally, which is important as I prepare to apply for jobs."

Crofoot said he was pleased with how the day went and how the community welcomed the students at the polls.

"It was heartwarming to see members of the community embrace each other, shake hands, and hug, and it really showed the sense of community that exists in Centre County," Crofoot said.