Voter Registration &
Civic Engagement
Voting is one of the most powerful ways you can stay civically engaged and exert influence in policy decisions. Join ASI Student Government in our efforts to register more students to vote than any other public or private university in California. Be a part of the future and Flex Your Right in local, state, and federal level elections.
Flex Your Right
Ballot Bowl 2022–23
Cal Poly students have a vital voice in the civic decision-making process at the local, state, and federal levels. To encourage students to register, the California Students Vote Project (SVP) developed the Ballot Bowl, where all of California’s major higher education institutions compete to register the most students.
Flex Your Right is ASI Student Government’s annual voter registration campaign that provides students with the opportunity to register to vote using their local San Luis Obispo address or home address. In 2018 and 2019, Student Government registered the most students, with over 3,000 students in 2018 and over 2,000 students in 2019. During the 2020 Election Year, Cal Poly ranked as one of the highest in the CSU system specifically, registering over 1,000 students to vote.
Ways to Be Civically Engaged on Campus
Civic engagement doesn’t end after an election! You still have the opportunity to get involved with ASI Student Government and the campus community, as well as the broader San Luis Obispo Community.
Attend a Board of Directors Meeting
Students and community members are welcome to speak during Open Forum, which happens during the first 30 minutes of every meeting. Meetings are held every other Wednesday from 5:10 – 8:00 PM.
Attend a University Union Advisory Board Meeting
Students and community members are welcome to speak during Open Forum, which happens during the first 15 minutes of every meeting. Meetings and workshops are held every other Thursday from 2:10 – 4:00 PM.
Attend a Meeting for our Standing Committees
Students and community members are welcome to speak during Open Forum, which happens during the first 15 minutes of each meeting. Meeting dates, times, and information are provided for each Standing Committee.
Attend Office Hours with ASI President
Students are welcome to attend and ask any questions or just have a chat with our President, Gracie Babatola! ASI President Office Hours are held every Tuesday from 1–2 p.m. on Zoom.
Top Things to “Know Your Vote”
- Register to vote.
- The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 8 General Election is Monday, Oct. 24.
- If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote or not, check your voter registration status. If you moved and need to change your address, re-register to vote.
- Stay informed and find the information Cal Poly students need to know for the upcoming 2022 General Election and post-election by visiting the Dean of Students Election Guide.
- If you miss the Oct. 24 Voter Registration deadline, you still have the option of Conditional Voting. You can register to vote and cast your ballot on the same day at any polling place or the SLO County Clerk’s Office. Visit Same-Day Voter Registration/Conditional Voting to learn more!
- More information on how to vote, candidates, and propositions is available in the Secretary of State’s Official Voter Information Guide. You can also use California’s Voter’s Edge to see what specific local candidates and ballot measures your county or city will be voting for.
- All California registered voters will be receiving a Vote-By-Mail ballot and you have three options for voting!
- Mail-in
- Once you receive your vote-by-mail ballot, fill it out, seal it, and mail it to your county’s elections official.
- All ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 8.
- Drop-off
- Once you receive your vote-by-mail ballot, fill it out, seal it, and drop it off at any official ballot drop-off location, polling place, or at the office of your county’s elections official. View San Luis Obispo County ballot drop-off locations to plan ahead!
- All ballots must be dropped off by 8 p.m. on Nov. 8.
- In-person
- You can also decide to vote in person at a designated voting location.
- You have until 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 to vote.
- Mail-in
- Know how to use your vote in the most effective way possible! Use this helpful Voter FAQ to help answer questions you may have about your vote and how to use it.
- If you live on campus, check out the address guide for Cal Poly student housing to ensure your mail-in ballot comes to the right place and you know how to list your address when registering.
- Did you know that you can track your ballot using Where’s My Ballot? This website lets voters know the status of their ballot every step of the way.
General Election Voter Information
Being a civically engaged and informed student is vital for our communities to thrive at the local, state, and national level. Take a moment to ensure you are registered to vote, check your voter status, find your polling location, and more.
Renters' Rights
Renters’ Rights is a virtual campaign that provides information to students regarding their rights as a resident in San Luis Obispo County. Student Government provides students with various online pamphlets describing specific rights they have when it comes to security deposits, evictions, how to approach broken appliances, living condition expectations, and the responsibilities of landlords.
Get Involved
Even if you are unable to register to vote, there are still ways to exert your influence by attending public meetings, speaking at open forums, petitioning, grassroots organizing efforts, or attending a civic engagement event hosted by Student Government. Sign up for our civic engagement newsletter to stay connected and find out how you can be more civically engaged in your community.
