As many Wildcats navigate voting for the first time in college, they will quickly learn that civic engagement is a large part of Northwestern’s culture. A national study by Tufts University found that in 2022, the average registration rate for college student voters was 76.1% — NU’s mark was 89.5% for the same election.
For U.S. citizens, NU Votes is an invaluable resource. Its comprehensive, 50-state voter registration model has been adopted by dozens of other colleges nationwide. Students who need help checking their registration status, getting registered or requesting an absentee ballot can use NU Votes’ online tools or drop in at the Center for Civic Engagement at 1813 Hinman Ave.
NU students can choose to vote from their home state or in Illinois. During presidential elections, many students make their choice based on where their vote will “count” in the Electoral College. For students voting in Illinois, polling places on campus typically operate out of Parkes Hall or the Noyes Cultural Arts Center.
Mayoral elections are coming up this November in many major cities, so keep an eye out. There will also be key midterm races in 2026, as all 435 seats in the House and 33 seats in the Senate are up for grabs.
Still, one in ten NU students is from outside the U.S. How can you participate politically if you aren’t allowed to vote or miss your opportunity to do so?
Introductory classes in the Political Science department are taught every quarter, including POLI SCI 220: American Government and Politics and POLI SCI 240: Introduction to International Relations. Students interested in diving deep into classes on politics should consider POLI SCI 320: The American Presidency with Daniel Galvin, POLI SCI 321: Urban Politics with Reuel Rogers or POLI SCI 324: Political Parties and Elections with Matt Pryor.
Student groups like NU College Democrats, NU College Republicans, BridgeUSA, Young Americans for Freedom and NU Political Union offer opportunities for political involvement. These clubs typically host speaker events, election watch parties, phone banking campaigns, debates and more.
Past speakers for NU College Democrats have included U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Texas politician Beto O’Rourke, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, CNN political analyst Van Jones and former DNC Chair Tom Perez. NU College Republicans have hosted speakers like activist Chloe Cole and diplomat Alan Keyes.
There are many ways for NU students to learn about and participate in politics at every level. Young voters historically don’t turn out on election day — voters in the 18- and 19-year-old age group had a 41% turnout rate in 2024 — but several organizations at NU are trying to change that, and it’s never too early to get involved.
Email: [email protected]
X: @SQPowers04
Related Stories:
— Civic Center sees 30% increase in early voting totals compared to 2020
— The Daily Explains: A guide to voting from Northwestern’s Evanston campus
— NU stresses voting and civic engagement ahead of November election
