As we look ahead to 2026, Seed Coalition is focusing our attention this fall on supporting member campuses through this election season through virtual convenings and curated resources.
Virtual Planning Session
We know very few people have “electoral engagement” in their job or course description, but many want to prioritize it in their work with students. Join us Wednesday, May 20 at 9am to help turn your ideas and intentions into action.
We’ll first take a moment to reflect on how we want to show up as leaders and educators during another election season. Then, we will get into the work: generating ideas for engaging with students, setting individual goals and priorities, and building a plan that fits your time, capacity, and commitment to student learning.
Resources
There is an abundance of resources related to electoral engagement in higher education. In partnership with our colleagues at All In for Campus Democracy and Students Learn Students Vote, we compiled a useful and thoughtful selection of resources to help our members prepare for both the election and its aftermath.
Student Engagement and Messaging
Nonpartisan Voter Engagement Resource Toolkit – 2026
This a helpful compilation of the resources that All In and SLSV provide. his toolkit includes a wide range of resources, including messaging tactics to help reach students where they are at. We particularly want to highlight the Nonpartisan Messaging & Tools for Faculty and Academic Affairs, and 2026 Coaches Playbook which can be quickly shared with athletic departments.
Civic Agency Workshops
Seed Coalition’s series of workshops are designed to help participants develop their civic agency, a framework that emphasizes the capacity to be an effective problem solver and leverage power to address the issues individuals care about. The Self in Conflict, Where Do You Stand, and the Bridging Divides workshops might be particularly relevant.
James Madison Center for Civic Engagement – Navigating Difficult Conversations
There is no shortage of information around dialogue in higher education. This resource is ideal as it’s both thorough and relatively easy to digest, and includes a section titled “News information, Media Literacy, and Election Perceptions.” If you need something quickly, there are some great reflection questions for students.
Practicing Democracy: A Toolkit for Educating Civic Professionals
If you are looking for practical ways to engage students in democratic processes, this toolkit offers a framework and lessons designed to educate publicly engaged leaders, or civic professionals.
Post-Election Campus Resource and Response Guide (2024)
Election preparation does not end in November. This framework for this guide was created by stakeholders in the student voting space in October 2020, who considered the question “How might we prepare to support campus stakeholders in processing and responding to a tumultuous post-election season?” This is a synthesis of their ideas, now updated to meet the context of the 2024 election.
Government Resources
Voting and College Political Campaign-Related Activities in America’s 250th Year
This issue brief from the American Council on Education is designed to help institutions protect student civic participation while navigating administrative scrutiny and evolving state policies. If you have questions about what is and is not allowable for your institution and the people who work there, this is a good place to start.
Minnesota Secretary of State – Postsecondary Elections Resources
This page provides information, answers, resources, and examples to help colleges in Minnesota fulfill the obligations under the laws passed in 2023.
Iowa Secretary of State: College Student Voters
A quick glance at options for college student voters in Iowa. Students should also be aware of the Voter ID law.
