The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University have long ranked among the top schools in the nation when it comes to campus voting rates.
That was demonstrated again last month when CSB and SJU each earned gold seals – indicating a voting rate of 40 to 49 percent or better – from ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge based on the campus voting rate for the 2022 mid-term elections.
In November of 2022, both SJU and CSB were recognized by the organization as ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting – joining a group of 394 college and universities around the nation. In
“It’s a reflection on the culture of civic relationships and engagement we have on these two campuses,” said Matt Lindstrom, a professor of political science at CSB and SJU and the director of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement. “It’s something we take a lot of pride in.”
Lindstrom said he is expecting even bigger voting rates during the presidential election this fall. CSB and SJU will again be sharing campus voting data with ALL IN and will be taking part in the organization’s Campus Democracy Challenge – competing against other schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“We’re shooting for 85-90 percent this year,” Lindstrom said. “There’s a lot of interest in this election on campus.”