Voting, Dialogue and Community Support During Election Season

October 27, 2026

Dear Gonzaga Community:

As the midterm election approaches on Tuesday, November 3, we write together to encourage every eligible member of the Gonzaga community to vote and to respect one another throughout this democratic process.

Civic engagement and respectful dialogue are deeply connected to our mission of seeking truth, engaging thoughtfully with complex issues, and working for the common good. It also reminds us that every person has inherent dignity and deserves to be treated with respect, even when we disagree.

Consistent with Gonzaga's commitment to Ignatian Dialogue and Engagement, we encourage all to contribute to a community that respects differences, exchanges ideas honestly, seeks understanding, and works toward the common good. As Pope Francis shared in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, "Together, we can seek the truth in dialogue, in relaxed conversation, or in passionate debate." This sentiment is especially important during election seasons, when strong convictions, conflicting ideas, and emotions are often present in public conversations and debates.

Whether election outcomes bring you feelings of hope, disappointment, relief, or anxiety, let’s all show respect to one another. Being a member of the Gonzaga community does not mean agreeing on every issue, but it does require that we treat each other with dignity, remaining collectively committed to learning, discernment, and human flourishing.

We encourage you to remain focused on what you can control. Please engage constructively, maintain healthy boundaries about how much media you consume, and support others. Listening intently, asking thoughtful questions, and striving to understand the experiences that shape another person's perspective strengthens our community and our capacity for dialogue. This article by former Gonzaga student Zora Berkeley includes advice that can help us cope with anxiety around election season. And if you need support yourself, please consider the care and support page for resources.

In the coming days, several programs and opportunities will be available across campus to help our community engage thoughtfully with the election and what comes after. We encourage you to participate in election-related events, dialogue opportunities, and support resources being coordinated by Student Affairs and university partners. The Gonzaga Student Body Association has already been a great leader in this space, leading a voter registration drive across campus.

Here are some additional resources from GSBA leading up to Election Day:

• Election baskets can be found in CSI Hem 304, Jepson, Herak, Bollier, PACCAR, HUB, Rosauer, and Foley library. They have election information, stamps, and other activities.
• The GSBA Elections team will be tabling and answering questions every Monday and Wednesday, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., at the Hemmingson tables until November 3rd.
• GSBA will also host a Post Elections Open House with conversation, other activities, and community.

Whatever the outcomes, Gonzaga will remain a community where thoughtful engagement, mutual respect, and care for one another guide our actions. Please vote, stay engaged, listen with openness, and continue working together in pursuit of truth and the common good.

Sincerely,

Katia Passerini, Ph.D.
President

Fr. Gilbert Sunghera, S.J.
Superior, Jesuit Community

Emma Davey
President, Gonzaga Student Body Association

Ryan Herzog, Ph.D.
President, Faculty Senate

Matt Eastman ('14, '17 M.A.)
President, Staff Assembly