Not eligible to vote? Not a problem! There are still many ways to become civically engaged. Students are members of the St. Olaf community and can contribute to on-campus political discussions regardless of their nationality and citizenship status.
Take a look at the the ideas on the right for ways that non-U.S. citizen students can get engaged this electoral season!
Learn about the U.S. election systems, the timeline, and why voting is a fundamental part of the U.S. democracy. Seek legitimate, non-partisan news sources. Be sure that you are looking at the factual news- not just opinions or social media posts.
Ask your classmates and friends about their views on the candidates, who they find most appealing and the issues that they find most important. Remind them to vote!
Keep an eye out for opportunities to engage on-campus in events to learn more about U.S. politics, such as speakers and civic dialogues coordinated through the Buntrock Institute for Freedom and Community.
There are a number of civically-engaged student organizations on campus, many of which are always open to new members. Try going to one of their meetings to learn more and to get involved! Student organizations can be searched for on Presence.
Just because you might not be eligible to vote doesn’t mean that you can’t encourage others to exercise their civic rights! Join our peer-to-peer networking initiative by becoming an Election Ambassador today. Get trained on how to share nonpartisan information about voting and the elections with your peers and walk through completing the Pledge to Vote form.
If you choose to engage off-campus, given the current climate, while you are engaging in political discourse or activism we encourage students to be mindful of St. Olaf College policies, immigration regulations regarding your status, and U.S laws both criminal and civil. Violations of these laws and policies, or perceived violations (being in the wrong place at the wrong time) can potentially result in your inability to continue your studies at St. Olaf College.
The US Federal Elections Commission limits participation by foreign nationals. “Even though a foreign national cannot make campaign contributions or expenditures, he or she can serve as an uncompensated volunteer for a campaign or political party. However, the individual may not serve in a decision-making capacity within the committee. For example, a foreign national is allowed to attend campaign strategy meetings and events, but may not be involved in the management of the committee.”
Be mindful that campaign contributions and expenditures could include purchasing political insignia (t-shirts, stickers, etc.) or contributing anything of value, like transportation in a vehicle. For more information, visit https://www.fec.gov/updates/foreign-nationals/.
All St. Olaf College international students are required to maintain F-1 status while in the U.S. To maintain F-1 status, students must be enrolled full-time, be making progress towards completion of their degree, and follow all F-1 rules and regulations.