As part of our mission, we understand that voter empowerment and civic engagement is an essential part of the college experience and contributes to democratic participation in our society.

Voter Empowerment

Webinar and FAQs: Increasing Voter Access

On a national scale, voter turnout has not surpassed 62.77% for a presidential election since 1960*. In this webinar, our campus student leaders explore the issue of voting access with elections experts – California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, State Senator Ben Allen. What is the state doing to encourage people to vote? How is California increasing voter access, including for vulnerable eligible voters who are homeless and/or disabled?

• "Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections – 1828-2016," The American Presidency Project, UCSB.
• Watch on YouTube – Ensuring Participation Increasing Voter Access

1. What is Same Day Voter Registration?
2. Who is eligible to Pre-Register to Vote before age 18? And, how do I pre-register?
3. Is there in-person early voting in my county? Where do I drop off my vote-by-mail ballot
4. Where is my polling place?
5. What is the California Voter's Choice Act (VCA)?
6. Does my county participate in VCA?
7. How does California ensure access to Voters with Disabilities? Check out the following two videos:
   • Watch on YouTube – Accessible Vote-by-Mail for Voters with Disabilities
   • Watch on YouTube – Vote Centers and Accessibility
8. If an individuals have a primary language preference other than English, are voter registration applications available to them?
9. Does California provide the restoration of voting rights for individuals who have been formerly incarcerated?

Webinar and FAQs: Demystifyig Vote-By-Mail

In California, you may request a vote-by-mail ballot for a particular election or you may request permanent vote-by-mail status. California, along with 28 other states do this. Five states conduct all elections entirely by mail – Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Given Covid-19, what are the changes regarding vote-by-mail? Is it possible for California to follow in the footsteps of "all mail elections" states? How is California working with the U.S. Postal Service?

In this webinar, our campus student leaders address these questions with elections experts, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and Dr. Mindy Romero.

Watch on YouTube – Demystifying Vote By Mail Webinar

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Click on any of the FAQs below which will guide you to the relevant Secretary of State web pages. Use your state's Secretary of State website as the primary source for elections and voting information. For more information, call the Secretary of State's toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683) or contact your county elections office.

1. How do I verify my voter registration status?
2. How do I become a permanent vote-by-mail voter? Update your voter registration status to become a permanent vote-by-mail voter at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.
3. How do I submit my vote-by-mail ballot?
4. Once I've submitted my ballot, how can I track my vote-by-mail ballot?
5. Will safe in-person voting be available?
6. How do I apply to become an elections poll worker?

Webinar and FAQs: Cybersecurity and Election Interference 

Cybersecurity and Election Interference 
In 2016, national intelligence agencies confirmed that the Russian government interfered with the 2016 presidential election. This was done through propaganda created on social media platforms. No successful hacking of elections systems occurred. To prevent this from happening again and to prevent possible security breaches, Congress allocated $380 million in 2018 to help states strengthen their election cybersecurity. How has California used funding to strengthen the state's voting system? What concerns were state elections officials addressing when they made their decisions? 

In this webinar, campus student leaders explore election security issues with experts – California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and Alliance for Securing Democracy's David Levine. 

Watch on YouTube – Cybersecurity and Election Interference Webinar 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is a provisional ballot? What happens after you cast it?
2. What is a common misunderstanding about provisional ballots?
3. How can you check the status of your provisional ballot by phone or online?
4. Where are the safe in-person voting locations in my county?
5. What is the Office of Election Cybersecurity and Enterprise Risk Management?
6. How is California working with national intelligence agencies to improve election cybersecurity?
   • Watch on YouTube – Election Cybersecurity Briefing with DHS, Cal OES, and Law Enforcement
7. How are elections secured in California in all phases of the elections process?
   • Watch on YouTube – Election Security in California
8. What is California doing to curb election misinformation – Vote Sure Initiative?
9. In addition to voting, how can voters help combat elections misinformation?

Related Resources

Research and studies that are mentioned in the webinar can be found here. For accurate and timely information, we recommend that you begin your research here.

1. National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) – #TRUSTEDINFO2020
2. U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security
3. Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD)
   • David Levine Testifies before House Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation (Aug. 4, 2020)
   • ASD & the Bipartisan Policy Center – 20 for 20: 20 Ways to Protect the 2020 Presidential Election (May 20, 2020)
4. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) – State Statutes Prohibiting Tampering with Voting Systems

 Election Resources 

Use these resources to find information on elections, polling locations, early voting and how to vote by mail. 

Non-Partisan Resources 

U.S. Congress 

You are represented by one (1) House Member and two (2) U.S. Senators: 
House of Representatives 
Senate

U.S. and California Constitutions: 

The Constitution of the United States 

• Created: September 17, 1787 
• Ratified: June 21, 1788 
• Date effective: March 4, 1789 
• Last amended: May 5, 1992 
• Amendments: 27 

The Constitution of California 

• Created: October 13, 1849 
• Ratified: May 7, 1879 
• Amendments: 514