MSU Faculty Senate Approved Election Day Absences
The measure seeks to remove academic barriers preventing East Lansing students from casting their ballots on Election Day.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Elections
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The Michigan State University Faculty Senate has passed a resolution to recommend excusing student absences for Election Day voting. The move comes after students reported that academic obligations frequently conflict with their ability to vote.
Why it matters
The resolution aims to bolster student participation in democratic processes by addressing structural scheduling conflicts. It highlights the university's ongoing focus on reducing barriers to civic engagement for its student body.
The resolution passed with a 91% approval vote, with 9% of members abstaining. Proponents noted that student voter turnout rates at the university currently exceed 50%.
The players
Michigan State University Faculty Senate
The representative body responsible for academic policies and governance at the East Lansing campus.
JJ. DeFeo
The Student Liaison who officially presented the voting absence resolution to the senate members.
WKAR
A public media organization based in East Lansing that provides news coverage and candidate debates.
The details
Student Liaison JJ. DeFeo presented the proposal to the senate to advocate for students who struggle to balance academic requirements with their polling responsibilities. This follows recent efforts to increase political engagement, including a congressional debate hosted by WKAR.
Timeline
January 2020: Michigan State University established a fall break to support student voter access.
Last week: WKAR hosted a debate for candidates running in Michigan's 7th Congressional District.
October 2026: The Faculty Senate passed the voting absence resolution.
Political Context
Some academic departments may argue that broad absence policies could disrupt curriculum consistency and syllabus integrity during midterms. Opponents often emphasize that instructors already maintain individual discretion to manage class attendance without university-wide mandates.
Students should check their individual course syllabi to see how their specific professors adapt to this new senate recommendation. This policy could result in easier access to polling locations on Election Day without the risk of grade penalties for missing class.
The takeaway
Universities continue to experiment with academic calendars to balance rigorous coursework with civic responsibilities. Students are encouraged to verify their registration status and polling locations well before Election Day to ensure their vote counts.
Further reading
For broader insights into local civic participation, visit the Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The State News.
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Should universities excuse student absences for the purpose of voting on Election Day?
