Students Rally to Vote in Minneapolis
Twin Cities college students gathered at the University of St. Thomas to talk about voting in the upcoming election.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Students gathered at the University of St. Thomas Minneapolis campus on Monday to talk about voting, with student organizer Alaijah Martin framing the event around participation rather than political parties. The gathering comes as 47% of Americans aged 18 to 29 cast ballots in 2024, compared with 65% of the general population.
Why it matters
Students at the event cited immigration enforcement, including ICE raids in Minneapolis, along with health care costs and gas prices as motivations to vote. Research shows people who begin voting young are more likely to become lifelong voters, making early engagement a lasting factor in turnout.
In 2024, 47% of Americans aged 18 to 29 cast a ballot, compared with 65% of the general population. The extraction does not indicate how youth turnout will shift in the upcoming election.
The players
University of St. Thomas
A private Catholic university in St. Paul with a Minneapolis campus that hosted the student voting discussion.
Leah Ingram
Program director of social impact and communications at the University of St. Thomas Center for the Common Good.
The details
Student Adam Xiong, 20, skipped the last election but plans to vote in this one. Students from Columbia Heights and Coon Rapids, including Traveonna Williams and Assance Hinton, took part in the discussion, which was organized with Leah Ingram of the University of St. Thomas Center for the Common Good.
Timeline
2024: Election in which 47% of 18-29 year olds voted.
Monday: Students gathered on the St. Thomas Minneapolis campus to talk about voting.
Political Context
Youth turnout in 2024 stood at 47% for adults aged 18 to 29, well below the 65% rate for the general population. Campus-based voter engagement efforts like this one aim to narrow that gap among first-time voters.
Eligible voters aged 18 to 29 who have not yet registered can use the WCCO election guide to check registration, meet candidates, and find polling places. Students can also use campus discussions like this one to learn about the issues on the ballot before election day.
The takeaway
Early voting habits often carry into adulthood, so students who take part in campus discussions now may build a lasting pattern of participation. Checking registration and polling information ahead of time makes it easier to vote.
Further reading
For more on local participation efforts, see Civic Engagement coverage for Minneapolis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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Do you plan to vote in the upcoming midterm elections?
