Grace LaTourelle-

Nationally, Election Day is Nov. 5, 2024, however, early voting has already begun. Gusties have options regarding election day as well as recommendations prescribed by professors and organizations on campus.

On Election Day, there will be a campus-wide schedule change and shuttles to make voting more accessible to students. According to the Voter Engagement website through Gustavus, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. The shuttles will be picking students up at Three Flags, however, they are also available to schedule for early voting through the Google Form on the website. There will be no class taking place from 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 to allow for Gusties to utilize the shuttles and go vote.

For many students, this will be the first Presidential election that they are voting in. It’s recommended that if students are exercising their right to vote, they prepare and make a physical plan of how they will reach the polls, whether by shuttle, car, absentee ballot, or early voting and make sure they are registered. President of the Political Science Club and Sophomore Ester Ljunggren also suggested that students ideologically plan for voting.

“Many of the people here, they’re first-time voters. So I would advise to…not only rely on what you’ve been told by people in your surroundings, but actually do some investigation. What are some important issues for me? And where do I stand on this? How will they affect me and my surrounding[s]?” Ljunggren said.

Besides say in politics concerning the country, Professor of Political Science Mimi Gerstbauer identified there is benefit in voting and ideologically planning.

“It hopefully requires you to become educated about some of the issues and about some of the candidates. If you’re going to take the responsibility to vote, then hopefully you also take the time to look into the positions of the people you’re voting for and the issues you’re voting on,” Gerstbauer said.

There are a variety of resources available to all voters online. Beyond Presidential, there are also State, Senate, and Judicial elections taking place. Sources may describe the stances and issues of the candidates. There are also options for finding a sample ballot so that voters are well-prepared for what options they will have during the election.

“Doing your research on candidates,” Vice President of the Political Science Club and Sophomore Laura Sunnarborg advised is a great strategy to have.

Ljunngren and Sunnarborg co-founded the Political Science Club at the beginning of this year out of a need they found on the Gustavus campus.

“We wanted to decrease tribalism at this school…it’s taboo to talk about politics which is understandable and sometimes beneficial. But it’s also important that we maintain an open dialogue…which is hard, but it’s vital and a part of democracy…” Ljunngren said.

Election day may be a stressful and anxiety-producing day for some students, because of tribalism or constrained dialogue.

“There might be heightened tensions on campus because there’s polarization and political division happening in every election…have some extra kindness and open-mindedness and grace for the people around you because they might be having a really stressful day,” Sunnarborg said.

To combat some of the stress of Election season, the Gustavus Meditation Program is hosting a three-part series entitled “Meditation for Challenging Times.” The first part occurred on Tuesday, but students can still join the other two sessions online on Nov. 5 and Nov. 12 during Chapel Break. The link for the session and more information can be found online, through the Gustavus Website.

“Election Day reminds us that we don’t really have that much control over any situation in life. Meditation can help us simply recognize that fact,” Professor, Academic Librarian, and Coordinator of the Gustavus Meditation Program Julie Gilbert said. “It can help us return to the present moment and notice what’s actually going on in our experience. And often just noticing those totally normal reactions can lessen their hold over us. The process can create space for us to breathe a bit.”

Gilbert also noted that meditation is rooted in love, kindness, and compassion and how that can be important as a practice.

“[Meditation] reminds us that other people…those we love, those we don’t know, and those we don’t agree with or like…also want to be happy and free from suffering. Meditation can help us tap into our natural inclination to care for ourselves and others.”

Gilbert derived the importance of voting from the practice of meditation and described that while many think of meditation as a solitary activity, it actually involves a larger community aspect.

“Our communities…meditation or otherwise…remind us…that our actions matter. We don’t exist in a void. We’re not islands. We live in an interconnected web, closely connected to others. Voting is one key way to help create and protect the policies and decisions that affect our communities,” Gilbert said.

Gerstbauer also suggested that students get sleep on election night, to alleviate some of the tension or stress.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen. But people could stay up all night and I don’t think that’s necessarily helpful for the anxiety, so sleep!” Gerstbauer said.

Gustavus students, if possible, are encouraged to exercise their right to vote in this election for a variety of reasons.

“It’s your way to have a say in the political atmosphere…your way to be a part of democracy because it’s the will of the people,” Ljunngren said. “You should give your opinion.”

While these elections are country-wide, there is a connection to the broader world as well.

“Think of all of the people in the world that don’t have the privilege of voting …or whose vote doesn’t mean anything,” Gerstbauer urged.

Students can find more resources on voting through the Political Science Club Instagram, the Voter Engagement Website through Gustavus, or other country-wide resources.

“Go vote!” Sunnarborg said.