Mobilize Mac

Ways to Engage the Election

• Form Your Voting Plan

  Regardless of where you choose to vote, All In has resources to help you form your voting plan. Student and staff leaders in the Community Engagement Center are happy to talk through a sample ballot anytime, just come visit the third floor of Markim Hall or look for our student leaders tabling ahead of Election Day throughout campus!

• Voting in Minnesota

  The upcoming general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Minnesota allows same-day registration at your polling place (the deadline to register in advance for this election was Oct. 15). Macalester students living on campus only need their Mac ID to register and vote at their polling place, Macalester Plymouth United Church. Beginning this year, this is also the case for students living off campus in Ramsey County! If you are a student who lives in Minneapolis, or anywhere else outside of Ramsey County, you will still need an ID with current name and address –or– a photo ID and a document with current name and address. Not sure where your registration status is at? You can check your Minnesota voter registration here.

  For any voting or Election Day questions or support:

  • Contact Campus Vote Coordinator Derek Johnson at 651-696-6363 or djohnso8@macalester.edu
  • Visit us on the third floor of Markim Hall

  The Secretary of State’s Election and Voting page includes comprehensive information and resources on this topic.

  Absentee voting by mail is not recommended this close to Election Day, however All In to Vote has excellent resources on absentee voting if you’re curious about your state’s laws, or wish to plan for future election cycles.

• How to Vote: Students Living on Campus

  Minnesota allows same-day voter registration, so Macalester students living on campus only need their Mac ID to register and vote at their polling place, Macalester Plymouth United Church (1658 Lincoln Avenue, across the street from Carnegie). Beginning this year, this is also the case for students living off campus in Ramsey County (more below).

• How to Vote: Students Living Off Campus

  Minnesota allows same-day voter registration, however eligible voters who live off campus are encouraged to make sure they are registered at their current address. Students living in Ramsey County — which includes all of St. Paul — can register on Election Day at their polling site using their Mac ID. If you are a student who lives in Minneapolis, or anywhere else outside of Ramsey County, you will still need an ID with current name and address –or– a photo ID and a document with current name and address.

• Voting in the US Outside of MN

  For those who plan to vote outside of Minnesota, All In to Vote has excellent resources on absentee, mail-in, and in-person voting nationwide. Student leaders in the Community Engagement Center are happy to talk through your voting strategy! Look for them tabling ahead of and on Election Day.

  Have questions? Email us at cec-publicpolicy@macalester.edu or djohns8@macalester.edu or stop by the third floor of Markim Hall. We’re happy to help!

• Frequently Asked Questions

  Q: I am already registered as a voter in another state. Can I register to vote in St. Paul or Minneapolis this fall?

  A: Yes! Although it is not legal to vote in two different locations during the same election cycle, you can register to vote and cast your ballot wherever you consider your current residence during any given election. Minnesota allows same-day registration, but we encourage you to register ahead of time.

  Q: I think I’m already registered in Minnesota, but not sure. Is there a way to check?

  A: Yes, you can check your registration status online here.

  Q: Where do I vote if I live on campus?

  A: Minnesota allows Election Day registration, so students who live on campus only need their Mac ID to register and vote at Macalester Plymouth United Church (1658 Lincoln Avenue, St. Paul MN 55105) on Election Day. The church is across the street from Carnegie, and less than 350 steps (or about a two-minute walk) from the Campus Center.

  Q: I’m not sure where to vote. How do I decide?

  A: All In to Vote has excellent resources on voting nationwide, including tools to view your registration status in any state, register to vote, and view a sample ballot according to zip code. Macalester is a campus member of the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, which encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, make democratic participation a core value on their campus, and cultivate generations of engaged citizens who are essential to a healthy democracy.

  Q: What if I can’t vote, or choose not to?

  A: There are many ways to engage the election outside of casting a ballot: Support your friends who plan to vote by helping them form a plan. If you are unable to vote, consider encouraging those who can to do so, and share how the election will impact issues that are important to you. See “Other Ways to Engage the Election” below for more ideas!

  Q: Why do local, off-year elections even matter?

  A: Both Minneapolis and St. Paul (and other cities throughout the U.S.) have major policy proposals on the ballot in addition to their respective mayoral elections. Depending on the state where you reside, this off-year election includes gubernatorial elections, citizen initiatives, and mayoral, city council and school board elections — all of which have significant implications on the local level and lived experience of residents.

• Other Ways to Engage the Election

  Not only does everyone not have the option to vote in U.S. elections, but the choice to vote is a highly personal one. There are many ways to engage the election outside of casting a ballot, including, and certainly not limited, to the following:

  • • Support your friends in forming their voting plans. If you are unable to vote, consider encouraging those who can to do so.

  • • Accompany a friend to their polling place by offering to walk, bike, drive, or take public transit.

  • • Discuss the issues that are important to you with those in your network, including how they are impacted by the election.

  • • Educate yourself and others about the U.S. election system and democratic engagement.

  • • Door knock, join a rally, or find other ways to engage the issues that are important to you. You do not have to be an eligible voter to volunteer for a campaign or non-profit group.

• US Elections 101

  The U.S. Presidential Election, also known as the General Election, is held every 4 years. In addition to the President, as much as a third of the U.S. Senate is also on the ballot in the General Election. Midterm Elections (named so because they occur halfway through a President’s term) are held every 2 years, and determine the makeup of the U.S. House of Representatives, since all 435 seats are on the ballot each Midterm Election. Elections that happen in between are considered “off-year” elections, and tend to concern the hyper-local municipal offices (i.e. mayoral, city council, school board, etc.).

  While the U.S. Constitution specifies the right to hold elections, the  method and location are left to the states with Congress having the power to alter their regulations. This is why the process varies from state to state.

  Initially granted solely to white, property-owning men, the right to vote now belongs to every U.S. Citizen when they turn 18 if they can meet certain residency requirements (one can still be homeless and meet this requirement). In nearly every state, residents can register to vote if they will be 18 years of age on or before Election Day.