Campus GreenVote was a nonpartisan organization started in 1992, focused on increasing college and university student participation in the November 1992 US federal and state elections. It was an offshoot of the parent GreenVote (a broader, national campaign to encourage environmentally conscious voting) and GreenCorps. Brian R. Trelstad is cited as founder and program director of Campus GreenVote1.
BAA co-founder Owen Byrd became the Program Director in 1992. His LinkedIn profile states he “recruited 2,400 campaign volunteers who registered over 100,000 new voters, produced numerous events, coordinated national get-out-the-vote effort and participated in Environmentalists for Clinton/Gore, conceived of campaign, hired staff, raised funds, [and] acted as media spokesperson.”
Campus GreenVote was an affiliate of Bay Area Action, according to an article in Action vol 3, no 4.
GreenVote report on environmental records of 1992 presidential candidates
In October 29, 1992 C-SPAN covered a press conference in Washington DC where GreenVote introduced a report card grading the environmental records of the three presidential candidates: George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot. The conference was held by GreenVote President John O’Connor and Program Director Owen Byrd.
The report criticized the incumbent Bush administration for catering to polluting industries and undermining environmental enforcement, and emphasized the importance of youth and student involvement in the political process to ensure environmental protection remained a central issue in 1992.
Key findings of the report
Bill Clinton (Democratic candidate) — Clinton was rated as having the strongest environmental record and platform among the candidates. The report highlighted his support for renewable energy, pollution prevention, and environmental justice. Clinton’s running mate, Al Gore, was also praised for his environmental leadership.
George H.W. Bush (Republican incumbent) — Bush received criticism for what the report described as a poor environmental record during his presidency. The report cited rollbacks of environmental protections, weak enforcement of existing laws, and a lack of meaningful progress on issues like clean air and water.
Ross Perot (Independent candidate) — Perot’s environmental positions were considered vague and lacking in substantive policy detail. The report noted that while Perot expressed concern for the environment, he had not put forward a comprehensive plan or demonstrated a clear record on environmental issues, and he had not responded to Campus GreenVote’s survey.
Impact on the election
The impact of Campus GreenVote in 1992 was significant in mobilizing and increasing youth and student participation in the electoral process with an environmental focus:
Voter registration — Campus GreenVote successfully registered over 126,000 new voters nationwide for the 1992 election, targeting primarily young people aged 18 to 24, especially college students.
Youth voter turnout — Their efforts contributed to a 20% increase in youth voter turnout from 1988 to 1992, reflecting a growing engagement of students in political processes around environmental issues.
Environmental awareness — The campaign encouraged young voters to consider environmental issues when casting their ballots, using tools like the “Green Voter pledge” to promote environmentally conscious voting.
Grassroots organizing — Campus GreenVote employed door-to-door canvassing, voter registration drives, and campus events to reach students directly, helping to build a stronger culture of environmental activism on campuses.
Broader movement influence — The campaign was part of a larger surge in student environmental activism around the early 1990s, which saw the number of campus environmental groups multiply and increased focus on political engagement as a strategy for environmental change.
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