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.
Background
Cal Poly students have a vital voice in the decision-making process at the local, state, and federal levels. Flex Your Right is Student Government’s annual voter registration campaign providing students the opportunity to register to vote using their local San Luis Obispo address or home address. Cal Poly students have a long-standing history of staying civically engaged. During Student Government’s annual Flex Your Right voter registration drives, Cal Poly students have shown up and registered to vote. In 2018 and 2019, Student Government registered the most students to vote than any other university in California with over 3,000 students in 2018 and over 2,000 students in 2019.
During fall quarter 2018, Cal Poly suffered a tragic loss. Jordan Grant, a first-year computer science major, passed away in an accident before he was ever able to vote — an act he was especially excited to participate in. To honor him, Student Government has dedicated this year’s Flex Your Right campaign to Jordan and his legacy.
Know Your Vote
Make your voice heard on Nov. 3 and follow these top 10 steps to Know Your Vote!
1. The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 3 General Election is on Oct. 19. Make sure you register to vote before Oct. 19. The deadline to vote is 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
2. 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!
3. Stay informed and find the information Cal Poly students need to know for the upcoming 2020 General Election and post-election by visiting the Dean of Students Election Guide webpage.
4. If you miss the Oct. 19 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. Go to the California Secretary of State’s website for more information on Same-Day Voter Registration/Conditional Voting.
5. 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 online resource to see what specific local candidates and ballot measures your county or city will be voting for.
6. This election year, all California 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. 3.
- 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. To find a location, check out this list of San Luis Obispo County ballot drop off locations. All ballots must be dropped off by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
- In-person
- You can still decide to vote in-person. We recommend that you go to your polling place at times with the least crowds. In San Luis Obispo County, in-person voting booths will be open starting on Oct. 31. To find a location, check out this list of San Luis Obispo County in-person voting booths. You have until 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 to vote.
7. Turn in Vote-By-Mail ballots early! The USPS has said, “If you plan to vote by mail, plan ahead”. Visit the secretary of state’s website for more vote-by-mail information. Visit the early voting website to see where you can vote early or drop off your ballot
8. 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.
9. Consider developing a plan to vote safely. The San Luis Obispo County clerk-recorder developed a guide to Vote Safely in San Luis Obispo County. Review it before you vote, so you can help stop the spread of COVID-19 during election season.
10. Did you know that you can track your ballot? Where’s My Ballot? lets voters know where their ballot is, and its status, every step of the way.
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.
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. Prior to the 2020 General Election, take a moment ensure you are registered to vote, check your voter status, find your polling location, and more.
Please note, students that live on campus and register with a campus address are not eligible to vote in city of San Luis Obispo elections. On campus residents are eligible to vote in San Luis Obispo county elections and ballot measures.
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. Reach out to asicivicengagement@calpoly.edu for more information on ways that you can be more civically engaged in your community. For more information regarding your rights to vote, visit the California secretary of state’s website.
