To: The Wellesley College Community
From: Courtney Coile, Provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College; Sheilah Shaw Horton, Vice President and Dean of Students; and Carolyn Slaboden, Chief Human Resources Officer
Re: Voter Registration and Political Campaign-Related Activity
Date: September 27, 2024
We want to ensure that all community members who are eligible to vote have important information and resources in advance of the upcoming election, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
We encourage everyone who has not yet done so to register to vote and to make a voting plan. At Vote.gov you can register, check your registration status, update your information if it has changed, and request an absentee ballot if you will not be voting in person in your hometown on Election Day. (Note that registration deadlines vary by state.)
Supervisors will work with employees on schedules as needed to support participation in voting.
To register to vote, you must:
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Be a United States citizen (either by birth or naturalization)
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Meet your state’s residency requirements
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Be at least 18 years old by Election Day (Some states allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries or register to vote if they will be 18 before the general election.)
Students, please be aware that you may consider your school or home address as your residence for voting purposes. In either case, you must be registered in order to vote. More information about voting options for college students can be found here.
We are pleased to announce Wellesley’s continued involvement in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a national, nonpartisan initiative for colleges and universities working to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation. As a participating campus in ALL IN, Wellesley has made a commitment to increasing student voting rates and helping students form the habits of active and engaged citizenship.
While Wellesley encourages everyone in our community to actively participate in the political process as individuals, as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization Wellesley is prohibited by federal law from participating in political campaign-related activities. Therefore, Wellesley’s faculty, staff, and students should only engage in political campaign-related activities in a way that makes clear that you are acting in your personal capacity, not on behalf of the College.
Please adhere to the following guidelines:
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College facilities, resources, and platforms may not be used in connection with political campaign-related activity, including fundraising, organizing, or otherwise supporting any candidate for public office, political party, or ballot initiative.
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Wellesley College’s name and trademarks should not be used in a way that suggests the College endorses or opposes a particular political candidate, party, or ballot initiative.
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Your Wellesley College position or title should generally not be shared in campaign-related solicitations or speaking engagements. If referenced, it should be accompanied by a clear statement that the views expressed are personal and not those of the College.
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Candidates may be invited to campus to speak to promote their candidacy if and only if all other candidates in the same race are offered an equal opportunity to come to campus; the event encourages academic engagement and does not include fundraising; and an explicit statement is made that the College takes no position with regard to the candidate.
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Recognized student organizations affiliated with political parties may not engage in political fundraising activities. For other political activities, they should seek the guidance of the Office of Student Involvement.
These are the basic guidelines related to the types of campus political campaign-related activities that are permissible and prohibited. To understand how this guidance might pertain to you, we encourage you to consult the American Council on Education’s 2024 guidance on political activity.
Every election is important, so don’t forget to register if you haven’t already, and encourage or help others to register—and vote! Voting is one of our most fundamental rights as citizens and one of the most important ways to participate in our democracy.
Other resources:
How to Register to Vote
National Mail Voter Registration form
U.S. Vote Foundation
Can I Vote
Vote 411
League of Women Voters
