Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 20, 2026

1. Who we are

The 'Sota Project ("'Sota," "we," "us") is a student-led Minnesota organization that helps college students register, vote, and take part in civic life. We are a nonprofit organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have. It covers our website (thesotaproject.com), our sign-up and pledge forms (online and paper), our email lists, and our text messaging program. It does not cover websites run by others that we link to, such as the Minnesota Secretary of State's voter registration site.

2. Information we collect and how we use it

We collect only what you give us, plus basic technical data from our website.

What you give us when you fill out a form, sign up at a table or in a class, volunteer, or text us:

  • Name

  • Mobile phone number

  • Email address

  • School or campus, and expected graduation year

  • Home or campus address and county, when you ask for help registering or finding your polling place

  • Whether you have registered or made a plan to vote, if you choose to tell us

  • Volunteer availability and interests

  • Any message you send us

What our website collects automatically: IP address, browser and device type, pages visited, and the site that referred you. Our website host, Squarespace, uses cookies to collect this. You can block cookies in your browser settings; the site will still work.

How we use it:

  • Send you voting reminders, election deadlines, event notices, and volunteer updates you signed up for

  • Help you register to vote and make a plan to vote

  • Schedule and coordinate volunteers

  • Answer your questions

  • Count how many students we reach and improve our programs

  • Meet our legal obligations

We do not sell your personal information.

3. Text messaging

How you sign up. You join our text list by checking the text-message box on a 'Sota sign-up form (online or paper). Signing up is optional. You never have to agree to texts to register, vote, attend an event, or volunteer.

What we send. Voter registration and election deadlines, early voting and Election Day reminders, polling place help, event invitations, and volunteer shift updates from The 'Sota Project.

How often. Message frequency varies, usually up to 4 messages a week, with more in the weeks before an election.

Cost. Message and data rates may apply. Check your mobile plan for details.

How to stop. Reply STOP to any message to unsubscribe. You can also reply END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT. We will send one final message confirming you are unsubscribed, and then no more texts unless you sign up again.

How to get help. Reply HELP to any message, or email info@thesotaproject.com.

Carriers. Mobile carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Your mobile information stays with us. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. All categories of information sharing described in this policy exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

To send texts, we use a messaging service provider, which processes your number only to deliver our messages on our behalf.

4. How we share information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only in these cases:

  • Service providers that run our tools for us: website hosting (Squarespace), email and documents (Google Workspace), and text messaging. They may use your information only to provide services to 'Sota.

  • Program partners. When we run a program with a campus group or partner organization, such as a student government voter registration drive, we may share your name, email, and campus with that partner to coordinate the program. We never share your mobile number or text consent this way.

  • Legal reasons. When required by law, subpoena, or court order, or to protect the safety of our members or the public.

5. Voter registration forms

If you fill out a paper Minnesota voter registration application with us, we deliver it to election officials as Minnesota law requires. We do not keep copies of your driver's license, state ID, or Social Security number.

6. Security and retention

We limit access to personal information to staff and trained volunteers who need it. We store data in password-protected accounts with two-factor authentication. Paper sign-up sheets are entered into our systems and then shredded within 30 days.

No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee that information will never be accessed without permission. We keep your information as long as you stay on our lists or as needed for our programs and legal obligations, and delete it when it is no longer needed or when you ask.

7. Your choices

  • Texts: reply STOP to any message.

  • Email: click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of any email.

  • Access, correction, or deletion: email info@thesotaproject.com and we will respond within 30 days. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under state privacy law.

Opting out of texts or email does not remove you from records we must keep by law.

8. Children

Our programs are for high school and college students. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has given us information, email us and we will delete it.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our programs or the law change. We will post the new version here with a new effective date. If we make a significant change to how we use your mobile number or other personal information, we will notify you by text or email before it takes effect.

10. Contact us

The 'Sota Project
1600 University Ave West, Suite 309
St. Paul, MN 55104-3800
info@thesotaproject.com