Democracy begins at the ballot box
This is the opinion of Alayna Furman, CSB senior and co-chair of the CSB+SJU College Democrats
I thought I would feel more prepared for my first time voting. Growing up in a family involved in local government, I knew the mechanics of elections long before I was old enough to participate in one myself. I had seen the work that goes into administering elections, learned about the institutions that govern our communities and even served as an election judge. I understood the process. Yet, standing in the polling place with my own ballot only a few weeks after turning 18, I was nervous, suddenly aware of the weight of the decision before me. For all the time I had spent learning how elections worked, actually participating in one felt different. It was one thing to understand democracy as a system; it was another to recognize my place within it.
In the two years and handful of elections since that day, I still find myself feeling unprepared every time I enter a polling place—it’s an uncertainty I’ve seen reflected in many students across our campuses as we’ve knocked on doors to make sure students are equipped to vote in the upcoming midterm election. Despite these lingering nerves, my eagerness to exercise my civic duty has never waned. Exiting the polls with an “I Voted” sticker continues to evoke a feeling of fulfillment unlike anything else. I hope more Bennies and Johnnies can share this feeling on Nov. 3.
While I want to emphasize this feeling of fulfillment, I also want to speak to where it comes from. Every election asks us to consider a fundamental question: who gets a say in shaping our future? For college students, that question is especially consequential. Decisions made by elected officials extend into nearly every part of our lives, from the cost of higher education and access to health care to the future of the economy, civil rights and our communities. Yet, amid the demands of classes, extracurriculars and everyday life, it can be easy to treat voting as an obligation for someone else to fulfill. As the 2026 midterm election approaches, we have an opportunity to reconsider that assumption. Voting is not simply a civic duty we inherit upon reaching adulthood; it is a means of participating in the decisions that shape our lives. As countless inspirational quotes will tell you, our voices do matter, but only if we use them. Voting is one crucial means of doing so.
As national and statewide races dominate much of the media coverage of elections, local races deserve just as much attention. Your vote can matter even more in these races, where the winners can come down to just a few ballots. Here are a few candidates, both local and statewide, that the College Democrats and I support. However, I urge you all to make your own informed decisions.
Amy Klobuchar for Minnesota Governor, Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate, Steve Simon for Secretary of State, Keith Ellison for Attorney General, Zach Filipovich for State Auditor, Doug Chapin for U.S. Representative District 6, Arlis Sayler for State Representative of District 13A, Trent Dilks for State Senate District 13, Abdi Disane for State Representative of District 14A (CSB students living in Centennial Commons only), Aric Putnam for State Senate District 14 (CSB students living in Centennial Commons), Erik Osberg for U.S. Representative District 7 (SJU students living in Vincent Court 41, 50, 51, 60 and Marmion House), ISD742 School Board: Rob Galler, Vincent Miles and Heather Weems.
Minnesota Constitutional Amendment to increase funding for all school districts: We encourage you to vote yes, but we want to note that leaving this issue blank on your ballot will be coded as a “No” vote. Please do your research on this matter to make sure your voice is heard!
Whether you’ve voted before or not, the list of names and positions on the ballot can be daunting. To mitigate these voting nerves, you can view a sample ballot on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website to research candidates, issues and positions you may have never heard of, especially if you are voting on campus rather than back home. As many of you have heard from our door-knocking conversations, voting here is extremely easy if you are not making the trip back home within the next week. If you have any questions about voting, please head to the “Vote as a Student” banner at the top of myCSBSJU (which provides a countdown to the election) or reach out to the Votes Coalition team at mccarthycenter@csbsju.edu.
It has been a true privilege to knock nearly every door across our campuses with the CSB+SJU College Democrats and local candidates. It was through such door-knocking that we were able to have wonderful conversations with students about their voting plans and clarify any lingering questions about voting as a college student. Our democracy is only as strong as our ability to raise our voices and vote in elections, which is why I sincerely hope you consider voting in the upcoming election next Tuesday, Nov. 3. Happy voting!
