A College Student's Guide to Voting

By Ella Tracy

If you haven’t already heard, November 5 is National Election Day in America. Politicians at local, state, and federal levels are on the ballot, namely candidates vying for the position of US President. Voting during this election is as important as any election. While it certainly can feel like one singular vote can’t make that much of a difference, there are state legislative races across the state of Minnesota alone that were decided by less than 150 votes in 2022. Every vote does matter. Here’s how to ensure you’re set up to cast your ballot as a student at St. Kate’s. 

Make sure you are registered. Registration is a crucial first step! States have varying deadlines for registration, so make sure you check your registration status soon. Minnesota’s deadline for registration is October 15. As a St. Kate’s student, you can register to vote using your St. Kate’s address. This means you will vote for local candidates representing our legislative and senatorial district in addition to local ballot measures and federal representatives. You can also register using your permanent home address, whether in Minnesota or out of state. Visit vote.gov to register for the first time or update your registration.

Mail-In Ballot. If you’re an out-of-state student or live elsewhere in Minnesota, you may decide your vote is better used back home. You can visit vote.gov and look up your permanent address to request a ballot mailed to you at St. Kate’s. This is an excellent alternative to traveling back home to vote in your district if you request the ballot several weeks before the election. 

Early Voting. Many states offer early voting options in person. Minnesota’s early voting opened on September 20. Visit mnvotes.gov, click “Voting locations before election day,” and select your county to find the nearest polling location that you can visit before November 5. Early voting is ideal for those who want the experience of voting in-person but have a busy schedule on Election Day. Early voting is also a viable option.

Vote on election day. If you miss the registration deadline in Minnesota, you can register at the polls on November 5. As a voter, you should bring your driver’s license or state-issued ID so poll workers can verify your registration. Polls in Minnesota are open from 8am to 8pm on Election Day. 

The Community Work and Learning (CWL) office at St. Kate’s has set a lofty goal of a 90% student voter turnout rate. According to the National Study of learning, Voting and Engagement, 53.7% of Katies eligible to vote cast a ballot in 2022, only 1 percentage point behind the University of St. Thomas. D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch, Director of the Office of Scholarly Engagement, says that every student will help them reach this goal. “Make a voting plan, tell your friends to vote and follow through,” Urbaniak Lesch says. “Studies show if you have a plan, you’re more likely to vote.” 

Ann Koller, Associate Director of Community Work and Learning says that CWL staff have resources available in CdC Suite 270 to help students develop voter plans. For students voting on Election Day, Koller suggests students take advantage of the Voting Van. “The Voter Van is available for students to have access to the polling location from 8am to 8pm on election day,” Koller says. 

OSE is also hosting several events in coming weeks to help educate students about policies discussed by politicians up for election. Join virtually on October 8 to learn about health policy, October 24 in the OSE for a discussion on immigration policy and October 29 online for foreign policy. Catch the office tabling around the CdC to ask questions and fill out a voting plan to ensure your vote gets cast on November 5.