A Guide to Voting
Why does the University get involved in voter registration?
The 1998 reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act and the State of California Donahoe Higher Education Act includes a requirement that higher education institutions make a “good faith effort” to make mail voter registration forms available to all enrolled students. This federal and state legislation supports the campus’s long-standing goals of engendering leadership and citizenship among the student body.
Am I eligible to register to vote?
To register to vote in California, you must be:
A United States citizen and a resident of California (for information on voters in the military or overseas, please see Military and Overseas Voters),
18 years old or older on Election Day,
Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony (for more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons with a Criminal History), and
Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (for more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship).
Qualifications to Pre-register to Vote
To pre-register to vote in California, you must:
Be 16 or 17 years old, and
Meet all of the other eligibility requirements to vote.
You will automatically be registered to vote on your 18th birthday.
As a college student living away from home, where should I register?
You may register to vote either at your college address or at your hometown or parent’s address. If you register at your hometown address and want to vote while attending college, you must remember to request an absentee ballot at least 30 days before the election. Check with your state election board for the exact deadline.
If I sign up to vote, will I get called for jury duty?
The court draws names from many sources, including the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). An individual is more likely to be called for jury duty because of possessing a driver’s license than because of registering to vote. No person is exempt from jury duty by reason of occupation. Based on their student status, students may request a deferral of service to the next school break. Students must respond to the jury duty summons and appear in court to request to be excused.
I live in a residence hall, what is the correct way to complete the registration form?
Students living in a residence hall or house should use the name of the specific residence hall/house as their residence address (e.g. Half Dome). The mailing address format is: Your Name, Building and Room Number, 5400 N. Lake Road, Merced, CA 95340.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How do I register to vote?
Online: California Secretary of State
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration
California Student Vote
Registering online is a very fast and easy process. By registering through the link below, you can increase the number of registered students at the University of California. California Student Vote also provides a list of resources and tools necessary to get you to feel comfortable while voting. Student Vote could be used as an alternative in case you are not living in California by the time you vote.
When is the last day I may register to vote for an election?
Although an eligible citizen may register to vote at any time, no person is eligible to vote unless he/she is registered on or before 15 days prior to the election.
How will I find out where to go to vote?
Your registration card should include the address of your polling place. Many jurisdictions also send additional informative materials to registered voters. If you do not receive the information in the mail, call the local election office at (209) 385-7541 or toll-free 800-561-0619. To view your local polling site please visit the Merced County Elections Web site at https://www.co.merced.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/25421/Voting-Assistance-...
When is it necessary to re-register to vote?
You need to re-register if you move, change your name, wish to change political party affiliations or if your signature has changed.
I am interested in getting involved in a political organization on campus. What is available?
There are political organizations on campus including Campus Democrats at UC Merced and, College Republicans at UC Merced. For more information, you can contact the Office of Student Involvement at studentinvolvement@ucmerced.edu or browse the campus organizations on the student organizations platform catlife.ucmerced.edu.
Where can I obtain more information about voter registration, voting, and elections?
Additional information can be accessed at the following web sites:
County of Merced - https://www.co.merced.ca.us/225/Elections
State of California - www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm
Rock the Vote - www.rockthevote.org
The League of Women Voters - www.lwv.org
Smart Voter - www.smartvoter.org
Our Time - http://www.ourtime.org/
