Resolution Endorsing the California Automatic Student Voter Registration Program’s Implementation in the University of California

WHEREAS, the Associated Students at the University of California, Irvine (ASUCI) seeks to advance higher education by empowering current and future students to advocate on their own behalf for the accessibility, affordability, and quality of the University of California system,

WHEREAS, Legislative advocacy is critical to this end, in addition to shared governance with the University of California system and direct action,

WHEREAS, ASUCI is a member organization of UCSA, which coordinates a long-standing campaign, UCweVOTE, that aims to register students to vote, provide voter education, and get out the vote on Election Day, [1]

WHEREAS, In preparation for the 2012 Presidential Election ASUCI expended enormous resources registering nearly 2,000 students to vote,

WHEREAS,  ASUCI attends the UCSA’s annual Student Lobby Conference in Sacramento each spring where 400 UC students develop lobbying skills, learn more about issues affecting students and CA higher education, and directly engage elected officials on these issues, [2]

WHEREAS, Voter registration continues to be one of the greatest barriers to public participation in California’s democracy,  

WHEREAS, In the 2014 general elections, the 18-24 year old population in California had the lowest turnout for all age groups, making up a meager 3.9% of those who voted, [3]

WHEREAS, Voter registration efforts and voter turnout are solely dependant on the year long manual efforts, organizing, and financing of students,

WHEREAS, Young people, like minority and low-income communities, have higher rates of geographic mobility, which consequently affects their ability to maintain their voter registration records up to date, [4]

WHEREAS, While voting rights are on the defense in many states with restrictive voting laws, such as cutbacks on early voting periods and the elimination of same-day registration, California continues to lead in modernizing strategies for voter engagement and removing obstacles to the ballot, [5]

WHEREAS, In October 2015, Governor Brown signed landmark legislation establishing a program that automatically registers to vote any eligible California citizen who interacts with the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to increase voter participation, [6]

WHEREAS, The Automatic Student Voter Registration Using University Enrollment [7] program has the potential to fundamentally change California’s political landscape by creating greater access to the legislative process for students and a ready-made platform for youth civic engagement,

WHEREAS, Under such automatic voter registration programs voters retain their right to opt out or cancel their voter registration at any time,

WHEREAS, Automatic voter registration programs are designed to set forth adequate safeguards and procedures that protect the privacy, security and confidentiality of student information, especially that of vulnerable student populations such as undocumented students and students who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking,

WHEREAS, The Automatic Student Voter Registration has the support of Assemblymembers David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Rob Bonta (D-Alameda), who are currently drafting legislation to formalize this program proposal as an official state policy,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the ASUCI endorses the Proposal to Expand the Political Participation of California’s UC, CSU, and Community College Students through Automatic Student Voter Registration Using University Enrollment,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the ASUCI urges the UC Office of the President to implement the Automatic Student Voter Registration in time for the November 2016 Presidential Election,

RESOLVED, ASUCI will urge Chancellor Gillman to write and issue a letter of support of Automatic Student Voter Registration measures to the Board of Regents,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, The Executive Vice President will advocate on behalf of Automatic Student Voter Registration to the association’s local legislators, seeking, in particular, co-sponsorship or a letter of support.

1. http://ucsa.org/category/standing-campaigns/ucwevote/

2. http://ucsa.org/category/conferences/student-lobby-conference/

3. http://explore.regionalchange.ucdavis.edu/ourwork/projects/copy_of_UCDavisCCEPPolicyBrief92014YouthVote.pdf/view

4. http://www.projectvote.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/2010_Policy_Paper-Enfranchising_American_Youth.pdf

5. http://www.brennancenter.org/new-voting-restrictions-2010-election

6. http://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and-advisories/2015-news-releases-and-advisories/governor-brown-signs- california-new-motor-voter-act/

7. file:///Users/iman/Downloads/CA%20Automatic%20Student%20Voter%20Registration%20Proposal%201.18.16%20%20V.1%20(1).pdf