Wellesley College published an announcement regarding voting and political campaign-related activity, authored by Provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College Courtney Coile, Vice President and Dean of Students Sheilah Shaw Horton, and Chief Human Resources Officer Carolyn Slaboden on September 17, 2026. Released to coincide with Constitution Day and its focus on civic education and participation—particularly during the United States’ 250th anniversary—the communication builds upon an earlier email from President Johnson regarding the significance of casting a ballot.

All eligible members of the campus community can check the WellesleyVotes portal for essential details leading up to the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 3. The platform links to external tools such as TurboVote.org, which delivers customized instructions regarding voter registration, voting procedures, and customized deadline notifications.

Additionally, student volunteers from the Committee for Political Engagement are offering general voter registration assistance. They are joined by on-campus notaries who are available to witness and endorse mail-in or absentee ballots during designated hours inside the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center through October 22. These support tables operate on Tuesdays from 4:10 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. in the second-floor vendor area, as well as on Thursdays from 12:45 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. in the fourth-floor vendor area. Community members may also examine scheduled campus events discussing related civic topics.

While Wellesley College encourages every individual within its community to engage in the political process personally, federal law strictly restricts tax-exempt, non-profit institutions from participating in political campaign-related efforts. Consequently, students, faculty, and staff must ensure that any political participation occurs strictly in an individual capacity rather than representing the institution. Readers mastering applications and campus involvement often look to Ivy League strategies when evaluating institutional compliance guidelines. To maintain compliance, community members must follow specific institutional boundaries.

Institutional resources, facilities, and communication platforms cannot be utilized for political campaign-related functions, including organizing, fundraising, or supporting any ballot initiative, political party, or candidate for public office. Furthermore, the name and official trademarks of Wellesley College must not be deployed in any manner that implies institutional endorsement or opposition regarding any political candidate, party, or ballot measure.

Individuals should generally refrain from sharing their Wellesley College job titles or official positions in campaign-related speaking appearances or monetary solicitations. If an institutional title is mentioned, it must be accompanied by a direct disclaimer clarifying that the opinions stated belong solely to the individual and do not reflect the stance of the College.

Political candidates may visit the campus to promote their electoral bids under strict conditions: every opposing candidate in the same electoral contest must receive an equivalent invitation to appear; the gathering must support academic discourse without incorporating any fundraising components; and a clear announcement must be delivered establishing that the College remains neutral and takes no official position regarding the candidate.

Recognized student groups associated with political parties are barred from conducting political fundraising events. For other permissible political endeavors, these student organizations must consult directly with the Office of Student Involvement for guidance.

The guidelines outlined above summarize the primary regulations governing permissible and restricted political campaign activities on campus. For readers seeking deeper comprehension of how these administrative rules apply to individual circumstances, institutional leaders suggest reviewing the American Council on Education’s guidance on political activity. To examine the complete institutional announcement and check updates, please visit the official portal.

News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.