As colleges and universities prepare for the upcoming fall semester and the 2026 midterm elections, ACE has released an updated issue brief: Voting and College Political Campaign Related-Activities in America’s 250th Year. The current political environment has transformed routine voter education and civic participation efforts into targets for public debate and administrative scrutiny. The new brief provides essential guidance for campus leaders to navigate these challenges through proactive, coordinated planning that protects the campus community without unnecessarily chilling important, mission-aligned work.
The updated brief highlights several critical areas for institutional focus as fall planning gets underway:
Federal and State Policy Pressure: The document outlines how recent federal actions and state level legislation, including initiatives mirroring the SAVE America Act, have created new potential barriers for students registering to vote or casting ballots.
Institutional Obligations: The brief reiterates that under the Higher Education Act (HEA), most institutions have a legal obligation to make a good faith effort to distribute mail voter registration forms to students in attendance. It also clarifies common misconceptions regarding the use of Federal Work Study (FWS) funds for nonpartisan voting activities.
Navigating Partisanship: As issue advocacy on campus becomes increasingly intertwined with national political discourse, the brief provides practical frameworks for maintaining a nonpartisan approach. It emphasizes that institutions can mitigate risk by keeping communications focused on procedural information, such as how, when, and where to register, and ensuring that voter education efforts remain neutral.
Supporting Student Voters: From demystifying residency requirements and absentee ballots to navigating shifting voter ID laws, the brief offers actionable strategies to simplify the voting process for students. It underscores the importance of utilizing reputable, nonpartisan resources to provide accurate, state-specific information.
The brief is intended as a high-level resource and does not constitute formal legal advice. Campus administrators are encouraged to evaluate their specific institutional policies and geographical contexts to ensure compliance.