Summer Primary Information
St. Olaf College encourages eligible students to vote in every election. Our next election in Minnesota is the Primary Election* on August 13. This allows Minnesota residents to vote to select their preferred party candidates for all offices besides the President. The MN Secretary of State says that college students should vote** wherever they consider home. This could be a permanent address or your college address, and ultimately it is up to each individual voter to determine their residency in any election.
If you are voting in another state’s primary, please check your home state’s Secretary of State’s website for details on registration and deadlines. If you have any questions please email vote@stolaf.edu
See below for guidance on scenarios you might find yourself in on August 13 to help determine if you are eligible and wish to vote using your college address:
- Living on campus all summer, including on August 13? You may vote using your campus address and should register (or re-register) using the campus hall you will be living in on August 13.
- Living off-campus in Northfield over the summer, including on August 13? Students who are living off-campus in the City of Northfield are eligible to vote at that address. You must pre-register by July 23 online or complete this form to verify your off-campus address with the college for same-day registration.
- Moving back to campus on July 24 or later AND you moved from somewhere else in MN? You meet the eligibility criteria of having resided in MN for 20 days. You may vote using your campus address and register (or re-register) using the campus hall you will be living in on August 13.
- Moving back to campus on July 24 or later BUT you moved from another state or country? You DO NOT meet the eligibility criteria of having resided in MN for 20 days and may not vote using your new campus address. You may consider re-registering to vote based on a permanent residence and choosing to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot.
- Not living on campus over the summer at all? If you have moved out of your residence hall address AND do not intend to return to that exact same residence hall, you should no longer vote at that address (MN Statute 200.031). Students should re-register and vote based on where they are residing at the time of the election.
We’re here to help! Email Campus Vote Coordinator Alyssa Melby (melby1@stolaf.edu) to talk through your specific questions, concerns, or situation.
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