Election and Voter Information

• The last day to register to vote for the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election was October 20, 2025.
• Eligible citizens who missed the October 20 deadline to register to vote may complete the “Same Day” voter registration process through Election Day on November 4, 2025, at their local county elections office or any in-person voting location within their county.
• All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election.
• Your county elections office began mailing ballots on October 6, 2025.
• Ballot drop-off locations opened on October 7, 2025.
• Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.
• To make sure your ballot is counted, return it early by mail, drop box, or vote center. If you mail it, do it early — or walk it into the post office and request a postmark.
• Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 12, 2025.

YES! Election security is a major concern at all levels of government. The end goal of election security is to deliver a process that is safe and secure but is also fair, accurate, and accessible. In California, at both the state and county levels, there is a multitude of layered security protocols in place.

Yes. You can check online through California State Website and look up your voter information.

Tracking your vote-by-mail ballot—when it is mailed, received, and counted—has never been easier. The California Secretary of State is now offering Where’s My Ballot?—a new way for voters to track and receive notifications on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot.

If you are registered at an address that is NOT in Santa Cruz County, a ballot would have been mailed to that address. If you return your ballot by mail, the envelope must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 12, 2025. Postage for California ballots is paid. If you are dropping it off at a post office, ask to have the ballot postmarked. Mail EARLY – mail can take up to 10 days. If you have questions or need to contact another county’s elections office, here is a list with phone numbers and email addresses.

If you did not receive a ballot, you will need to visit one of the in-person voting sites, like the Stevenson Event Center on campus, to fill out the Same-Day Voter Registration. 

While we are glad to see our community is engaged with the various contests and topics, please note there are some legal restrictions on the University of California’s involvement in political campaign activities based on the status of the university as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and as a state entity.

Specifically, the university may not endorse/oppose (or contribute to) political candidates or ballot measures, nor may university resources (including university-paid time or equipment) be used for campaign purposes in connection with ballot propositions, measures, or candidates. UC guidelines for participation in political and ballot campaigns can be found on the UC Office of the President’s website.

While it is important to ensure that voters are informed and engaged, it is also important to abide by University of California policies around the appropriate rules of “time, place, and manner.” We want to ensure fairness in our elections processes and that we are not using state or federal resources or facilities for campaign purposes and that information is presented in a balanced manner.

To this end, state law and University policies (Policy on Speech and Advocacy and Policy on use of university properties), provide guidelines on how and where campaign materials may be posted on campus. Please also note that those wishing to post materials at certain locations must check with that location to ensure compliance with the posting rules and procedures of the particular location.

Organizations and individuals not affiliated with the university must also comply with the Regulations Governing Conduct of Non-Affiliates in the Buildings and on the Grounds of the University of California and may post and distribute materials only on bulletin boards designated for public use: outdoor kiosks and the interior of bus shelters. These areas will be cleared of all materials on a regular basis.

If you are seeking to hold forums or election events on campus and invite candidates or campaigns to participate, please contact the Government and Community Relations office. There are certain rules and regulations that must be adhered to in order to ensure university-sponsored events are politically balanced, unbiased, and conducted for informational purposes only.

Policy on Free Speech and Advocacy

Policy on Use of University Properties

Regulations Governing Conduct of Non-Affiliates in the Buildings and on the Grounds of the University of California

Senate Bill 108: Rights and responsibilities of free expression

UC guidelines for participation in political and ballot campaigns