Washington Update
July 02, 2026

Your Vote, Your Voice: Preparing for the 2026 Midterm Elections

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, NAICU encourages institutions to take advantage of resources available through its Your Vote, Your Voice initiative. These tools provide guidance on voter engagement, election-related activities, and institutional compliance to help campuses prepare for the months ahead. 

The 2026 midterm elections will shape the future of higher education policy. Control of Congress, governorships, and state legislatures will influence issues such as student aid, tax policy, workforce development, and research funding. While midterm elections often receive less attention than presidential election cycles, their impact on colleges, universities, and students is significant.

As election activity increases, colleges and universities will once again serve as hubs for civic engagement and political discourse. Institutions should be mindful of the laws and regulations governing election-related activities on campus.

The Higher Education Act (HEA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) provide guidance on what institutions may and may not do during election seasons while maintaining their nonprofit 501(c)(3) status. In addition, the HEA requires colleges and universities to provide students with voter registration information for all federal and gubernatorial elections. Understanding these requirements is critical to supporting voter registration efforts while avoiding prohibited partisan activity.

Your Institution’s To-Do List:

  • Communicate your state's voter registration and voting deadlines to students.

  • Provide students with links to voter registration resources.

  • Review campus policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal laws governing nonpartisan election-related activities.

  • Visit Your Vote, Your Voice for voter engagement resources, election information, and compliance guidance.

Students’ To-Do List:

  • Check voter registration status.

  • Know voter registration and voting deadlines for the state where the ballot will be cast.

  • Make a plan for when, where, and how to vote.

  • Review the ballot before Election Day.


For more information, please contact:
Dorian Wanzer

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