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Mobilize Mac

Love Vote Rise, a local non-partisan media project, creatively encouraged voting ahead of the 2020 U.S. General Election.

Mobilize Mac is the umbrella framing that the Community Engagement Center and Macalester College uses for democratic engagement and elections-related work via campus-wide collaboration across many different departments and offices. Whether the election cycle is mayoral, midterm, general, or otherwise, Mobilize Mac is intended to be a space where students and the larger community can access the relevant, non-partisan information they need to vote — along with other ideas for ways to engage the electoral process.

The upcoming general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Check this page and follow us on social media for more as the election draws closer.

Ways to Engage the Election

  • Voting in Minnesota

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

    Absentee Voting by mail and Early Voting start 46 days before each election in Minnesota for those not voting in person on election day. You can request an absentee ballot by mailed to you in advance.

    The upcoming primary election is August 13, 2024. While Minnesota allows same-day registration at your polling place, the deadline to register in advance for this election is July 23.

    The upcoming general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. While Minnesota allows same-day registration at your polling place, the deadline to register in advance for this election is October 15.

    For any voting or Election Day questions or support:

    • Contact Campus Vote Coordinator Derek Johnson at 651-696-6363 or [email protected]
    • Visit us on the third floor of Markim Hall

  • How to Vote: Students Living on Campus

    Eligible voters who live on campus should register ahead of time with 1600 Grand Avenue as their address. Minnesota allows Election Day registration, so students only need their Macalester ID to register and vote at Macalester Plymouth United Church (1658 Lincoln Avenue, across the street from Carnegie and only 350 steps away from the Campus Center).

  • How to Vote: Students Living Off Campus

    Eligible voters who live off campus should make sure they are registered at their current address. It is easiest to register in advance (3 weeks before election day). However, students living in Ramsey County (including all of St. Paul) can register on election day at their polling site  using your Macalester ID. If you live off campus outside of Ramsey County, this page explains how you can demonstrate residency so that you can register and vote at your polling site on election day.

  • 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.

    Have questions? Email us at [email protected] or [email protected] 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 confirm your registration status online here.

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

    A: Eligible voters who live on campus should register ahead of time with 1600 Grand Ave, St. Paul MN 55105 as their address. The registration process online only takes a few minutes, and requires a MN drivers license or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Additionally, Minnesota allows Election Day registration, so students who live on campus only need their Macalester 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.

Questions? We’re here to help! Visit us on the third floor of Markim Hall or email [email protected] or [email protected] and we’ll get back to you right away. We also welcome your feedback and ideas to help make voting and democratic engagement easy for everyone, regardless of voter status or party affiliation.