Rice University’s Welcome Center saw a significant increase in voter turnout on Election Day, Nov. 3, with 1,763 ballots cast — a 47% increase over 2025 and a 61% increase over 2024, when 1,198 and 1,096 ballots were cast, respectively.
The voting efforts were supported by numerous constituents, including campus political groups, volunteer deputy voter registrars, the Center for Civic Leadership and the Kelley Center for Government Information and Civic Engagement.
“The Welcome Center is proud to serve the Rice community and the Greater Houston area by continuing its long-standing tradition of providing a convenient place for community members to exercise their right to vote,” said Haidee Sjodin, Welcome Center manager. “Providing this service underscores the university’s commitment to make civic engagement easy and accessible for all.”
Additionally, during early voting, the Division of Operations, Finance and Support and its Transportation Department organized and funded free shuttles to the closest off-campus early voting site, located nearly 3 miles away from the university.