VOTE – St. Olaf College

Engage in the Democratic Process

Every Ole has a place in the democratic process. Identify your cause, start a dialogue, and share your voice.

Pledge to Vote

"Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, empowering individuals to shape the future, hold leaders accountable, and drive social change. It's not just a right, but a responsibility—a powerful tool for preserving democracy and building a better society."
Your Election Engagment Team

Learn about the different ways to participate in elections, on campus or at home, and how to stay civically engaged all year long.

Are you pre-registered in MN? You’re all set, whether you’re voting early or on Election Day!

Not pre-registered in MN? The pre-registration deadline has passed, but don’t worry—Minnesota offers same-day registration. Just bring your St. Olaf student ID to your polling place! If you live on campus, that’s the Pause in Buntrock Commons, and if you live in affiliate housing, check out this spreadsheet to find out where you’ll vote.

Not registering in MN? You can register in any state using our Register to Vote link (though be aware that some pre-registration deadlines may have passed). You can also visit vote.gov for more information about how to register in your home state!

Questions? Check out our handy Voter Registration Guide!

Voter Registration Guide

Voting by mail is an option, even if you’re voting from campus! Check out our vote by mail page to learn more.

Vote by Mail

Voting early in person is a great way to avoid Election Day lines! If you’re planning to vote early https://wp.stolaf.edu/vote/checklist/from your campus address, join us on Saturday, October 26th from 11 am to 2 pm for an early voting shuttle which will depart from Buntrock, Southview Suites, and Kraewood Flats to get you to City Hall so you can cast your ballot. Learn more and RSVP here!

Visit your Secretary of State’s website to learn how you can vote early if you live outside of MN. This often entails traveling home to vote and is a great option if you live close by!

To vote in-person on Election Day, if you live on campus, head to the Pause between 7 am and 8 pm on November 5th. If you live in affiliate housing, check your polling place here. If you didn’t pre-register to vote, don’t worry—you can same day resister at your polling place with your St. Olaf student ID!

Ready for Election Day?

2024 Election Timeline

Meet Your Elected Officials

Get to know your current elected officials.

Learn more

Non-U.S. Citizens

Even though you may not be able to vote, there are still many ways to get involved and use your voice!

Learn more

Official Political Policies

Review St. Olaf’s political policies so you can engage in the democratic process.

Learn more

St. Olaf takes part in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), an initiative that looks at aggregate election turnout data from more than 1,100 colleges and universities and 10 million student records from all 50 states to better understand college student political learning and engagement in democracy.

You can read more about how the NSLVE results informed our election engagement activities for 2024 in our 2024-25 democratic engagement plan.

Click here for St. Olaf’s full 2022 NSLVE report!

67.6%

of eligible St. Olaf student voters voted in the 2022 election. The national average was 46%.

90.4%

of eligible St. Olaf student voters registered to vote in the 2022 election.

40%

of eligible St. Olaf student voters chose to vote absentee or mail-in in the 2022 election.

Student Support Resources

Faculty Resources