| by Kristie Skor

Announcements

Dear Students,

We are writing today to let you know about opportunities and activities during the upcoming election week. 

Voting Essentials

All Middlebury College students who are eligible to vote in the United States may vote in Vermont if they have not voted by absentee ballot in their home state. Online registration is available here.

Please note the following important information, including the first three tips, which are from the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office

  • There is no deadline to register, and those who are eligible may register to vote up to and including the day of the election. 

  • If you register online the day before the election or on Election Day, however, your application may not be processed and your name may not appear on the checklist. You also may be asked to fill out another application at the polls. 

  • To be sure your name appears on the checklist, you must register by the Friday before the election, which is today.

  • The polling place for Middlebury College students eligible to vote in the United States and living on-campus is the Middlebury Recreation Center at 154 Creek Road. 

  • Transportation to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, will be provided by MiddVotes and the Center for Community Engagement from Adirondack Circle every hour on the hour from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Make a plan to vote! Here is a voter guide for Vermont, and you can find a sample ballot for Middlebury here.

Resources

Politics address weighty questions that affect all of us in personal ways. We know that elections can carry uncertainty, and that can feel stressful. Please take care of yourselves and seek support if you need it from the Center for Health and Wellness.

If you would like to connect with others and reflect on the results and how they are affecting you, please join the Democracy Initiatives team in the Center for Community Engagement (26 Blinn Lane) for an open discussion space on Wednesday, November 9, from 10 a.m.-Noon. 

Civic engagement does not end with your vote; it begins there. Consider taking action through legislative advocacy or by becoming involved in the community. All students are welcome to schedule an advising session with a Center for Community Engagement staff member to explore how to make a difference in our communities. 

Election Activities

Following is a list of election week activities:

  • Monday, November 7: Election Hero Day, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Proctor Terrace. Join the Center for Community Engagement Democracy Initiatives team to thank an election hero and/or register to vote in Vermont. Postcards and cookies provided! 

  • Tuesday, November 8: Election Day Rides to the Polls, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Adirondack Circle. Transportation to the polls will be provided by MiddVotes and the Center for Community Engagement. Vans will depart on the hour from Adirondack Circle and arrive at the Middlebury Recreation Center at 154 Creek Road.

  • Tuesday, November 8: Weekly Politics Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Robert A. Jones ‘59 Conference Room. Students and the public are invited to attend this weekly nonpartisan discussion of recent political events, hosted by Professor Matthew Dickinson. Held on most Tuesdays from 12:30-1:20 p.m. and no expertise is assumed. All viewpoints are welcome. To register, please contact Professor Dickinson by email: Dickinso@middlebury.edu.

  • Tuesday, November 8: Election Night Watch Party, 7-10:30 p.m., Crossroads Cafe. All are welcome to join this nonpartisan event as Political Science Professor Bert Johnson provides commentary on the election results. Snacks provided! Hosted by MiddVotes.

  • Wednesday, November 9: Post-election Discussion, 10 a.m.-Noon, Center for Community Engagement (26 Blinn Lane). All are invited to an open discussion space where all are welcome to share your thoughts and reactions to the election. Hosted by the Democracy Initiatives team.

  • Wednesday, November 9: Wakeful Wednesdays, 12:10-12:30 p.m., Middlebury Chapel. Join Spiritual and Religious Life Dean Mark Orten for 20 minutes of quiet contemplation with reading and music for our times. Intentional silence and guided meditation will be interspersed with music and readings from secular worldviews and sacred traditions to open our awareness and to find strength and perspective for living during personal, political, racial, ecological and other upheavals.

  • Wednesday, November 9: Managing Stress (with Stella the dog), 4-4:50 p.m., McCullough, Mitchell Green Lounge. The purpose of this group is to help students process stress and provide recommendations for stress management. The group discussion has a 50-minute open format occurring weekly, and includes a space for students to engage in conversation with each other around topics of stress. Stella the therapy dog will be present for students who would like to engage with her. Sarah Lawrence, associate director of counselor training, will run the group with Sam Rothberg, counseling intern.

We hope these resources are helpful, and that each of you finds ways to be engaged in this important process as individuals and as part of the Middlebury community.

Sincerely,

Kristie Skor

Democracy Initiatives Coordinator

Center for Community Engagement