Harvard First-Time Voters Cast Their Ballots in 2026 Midterms

As several states face pivotal races in Tuesday’s midterm election, many Harvard students mailed in their ballots — navigating mail-in and absentee voting for the first time.

Early voting has spiked this midterm election cycle, with more than 55 million Americans having cast their ballots so far.

With many students voting out-of-state, most had to plan ahead to participate in the election, requesting absentee ballots weeks or months in advance, and others asked their parents to drop off their ballots over Family Weekend last month. Despite the hassle, students said the process was straightforward.

“I don’t think it was confusing,” Isabella L. Baldisseri ’30 said. “I think it was really simple.”

But some first-time voters in Massachusetts, where voters will weigh in on a record-tying nine ballot questions, said the language of the ballot questions was murky. Elizabeth S. Chung ’30, who voted in Massachusetts, said some of the ballot questions were “super confusing.”

Chung specifically pointed to Question 9, which asked voters whether to keep a 2024 gun control reform. Question 9 is one of two ballot questions where a “yes” vote will repeal an existing law.

“I’m like a relatively well-educated person,” Chung said. “I feel like I should be able to understand ballot questions, and I had to look it up and be like, ‘Wait, what does which thing mean?’”

Despite the confusion, Adithi M. Jayashankar ’30, who also voted in Massachusetts, said it’s important for students to voice their opinions on both the candidates and propositions on the ballot.

“People ignore the importance of things like ballot questions,” Jayashankar said, “because a lot of policy that actually gets implemented in day-to-day life comes at the state level and not the national level, which doesn’t get a lot of traction among young voters.”

Students involved with civic organizations on campus also encouraged their peers to cast their ballots.

“It’s important for students to vote because the policy decisions made now have ramifications for years to come,” Harvard Votes Challenge chair Carter W. Umphress ’28 wrote in a statement. HVC, a program at the Institute of Politics, works to increase voter registration and help students navigate the voting process.

“Your vote is your way to express your views on the direction of the country, your state, your city, and your community,” Umphress wrote.

HVC member Caroline M. Robbins ’30 said that everyone should vote if they are able, regardless of the candidates they select.

“No matter what part or what side of the political spectrum you’re on, no matter where your views lie politically, we all have the duty as citizens to make our voices heard,” Robbins said.