Bagels & Ballots Fall 2026

Bagels & Ballots is back! The Ash Center is relaunching Bagels & Ballots for the academic year. These are informal, open conversations where students can talk with each other—and with us—about what’s on their minds when it comes to current issues confronting our election system. We’ll start there, with participants setting the table for the conversation, and then Tova Wang will lead us into this week’s topic: Vote by Mail: What are the real advantages and disadvantages? With all the litigation, executive orders, and commentary around vote by mail, it’s worth stepping back and asking a pretty basic question: Why do we have it in the first place? We’ll talk about how vote by mail developed, what purpose it serves, and the legitimate advantages and disadvantages of making it broadly accessible. No presentation, no big production—just bagels and a good conversation about voting and democracy! Thursday, September 17 9:00–10:00 AM Seminar Room 225 Open to all students and HUID holders Ash Seminar Room 225 124 Mount Auburn Street, Suite 200 N, Cambridge MA 02138