Portland State University Used Therapy Dogs for Voters

The Puppies at the Polls event aimed to boost student engagement ahead of the upcoming election.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Portland State University Used Therapy Dogs for Voters

Live Poll

Should universities use campus events to encourage student voter registration?

Portland State University hosted a Puppies at the Polls event, featuring therapy dogs to encourage students to register to vote. The initiative coincides with the Oregon Campus Voting Challenge, a statewide effort to increase turnout.

Why it matters

The event serves as an incentive to draw students into the electoral process, aiming to improve voter representation. Increasing student turnout remains a primary goal of the state challenge.

The challenge includes two dozen campuses across Oregon, which typically see 5 percentage points higher voter turnout through such programs. Participating schools are now being judged based on their community engagement action plans.

The players

Portland State University

This is a public research university located in Portland, Oregon, that serves as the site for the recent voter engagement initiative.

ALL IN

This organization partners with more than 1,000 campuses across the country to improve civic engagement and student voter turnout.

Oregon Secretary of State

This government office partnered with ALL IN to launch the statewide Oregon Campus Voting Challenge.

U.S. Department of Education

This federal agency is currently investigating Tufts University and the National Student Clearinghouse regarding FERPA compliance.

Tufts University

This private research university is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education regarding student data privacy compliance.

The details

Organizers used the presence of therapy dogs to attract students, creating an engaging environment for registration efforts. This approach supports the Oregon Campus Voting Challenge, which shifted its strategy to focus on action plans due to a federal FERPA investigation involving Tufts University.

October 2026 is the voter registration deadline for Oregonians.
November 3, 2026, is the scheduled date for election day.

Political Context

The investigation into FERPA compliance has forced organizations like ALL IN to pivot their evaluation methods away from typical data collection. This shift has led to the current reliance on community action plans rather than individual student participation statistics.

Students and residents in Portland should note that the registration deadline for the upcoming election is in October 2026. Participating in these local events helps ensure students are properly registered before the November polls open.

The takeaway

Creative engagement events like therapy dog sessions provide a tangible way for students to connect with the electoral process. Voters are encouraged to check their registration status early to avoid issues closer to the November 3 deadline.