voting booths

Elections

A Diversity of Voices

Election season can be a tense time for many.  Yet it is a diversity of voices that the U.S. democracy is built upon.

Candidates, the media or other public figures raise topics or make statements that can in turn cause people within our community to become more vocal and/or passionate about their own opinions and ideologies. These opinions and beliefs—which are often shaped by a person’s life experience—may vary slightly or significantly between colleagues, partners, friends and community members.  This variance can be perceived as divisive and personal or as respectful, enlightening and informative. 

We at UC Davis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion want to help create a university environment where we elevate all voices, equip our community with nonpartisan resources, engage in respectful dialogue with each other and empower our community to exercise their right to vote and participate in the election process in other ways. 

We have created this resource page to for the 2024 Elections to share information from a wide variety of non-partisan sources to help you:

  • Learn about university resources to help equip you this elections season
  • understand how to get involved in the election 
  • exercise your right to vote 
  • be informed about the issues at stake
  • learn tips for managing socio-political stress
  • discover ways to pursue civic engagement 

Meet the Moment

A Quick Reference Guide for working through challenges in real time.

Be a Voice for Change

Civic Engagement

Civic engagement can be a powerful way for a person or group of people to work together to make a difference, promote the quality of life in one’s community or address an issue of public concern. Here are some resources to help students become civically engaged this election season: 

For K-12 Educators and Students

You don't have to be 18 years old to get involved in the 2024 election!

High School students age 16 and older can work and earn money as a student poll worker on election day!

Serve as a student poll worker

You can pre-register to vote if you are 16 or 17 years old! You will be automatically registered to vote when you turn 18.

Pre-register to vote 

The Center for Public Service and Education, seeks to realize California’s promise of an engaging, relevant, and impactful public education for all students. Built from an innovative and collaborative partnership of both on-campus and statewide organizations, the Center advances UC Davis' public service mission to the state of California, and works to fulfill the democratic promise of education through support for educator professional learning, applied research, and career diversity initiatives.  

Vote in the California 2024 Mock Election! Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond are inviting high school and middle school students, teachers, and principals to Vote! The 2024 Caliofrnia Student Mock Election will take place on October 8, 2024. 

The Yolo Youth Commission consists of 15 student commissioners who are actively engaged in leadership projects and community engagement. The annual YouthSaysYes event is an opportunity for Yolo county youth to say "Yes!" to youth engagement and leadership.

The Yolo County Youth Civics Initiative works to increase civic engagement by building student understanding of local government, developing student media literacy, and promoting and enhancing school and community efforts to increase youth involvement in the civic process.

Protect Your Peace 

Taking care of your mental health is very important, especially during politically heated times. UC Davis has created robust mental health resources to help our community find important resource to support their mental health and wellness. 

9 Tips for Managing Socio-Political Stress 

These tips (download the pdf) were inspired by and adapted from lists created by the American Psychological Association, Texas Woman’s University, University of Michigan, Boston University and UC Davis students. 

  1. Acknowledge your feelings. Allow yourself time to feel what you feel and know that your feelings are valid.  
  2. Reach out to people you trust. Talk to people who support you, respect you and listen to you empathetically without judgement.  
  3. Stay informed but know your limits. If the political climate is triggering, limit your intake of news and social media.  
  4. Set boundaries. Step away from conversations or spaces that do not validate your lived experience.  
  5. Practice self-care. Check-in with yourself daily and do what you need to take care of yourself.  
  6. Set boundaries with social media (and with family and friends). If you’re scrolling on social media due to boredom, try practicing self-care instead.  
  7. Use a journal to write down your feelings or thoughts about the political climate.  
  8. Focus on what you can control – channel your energy with activism or volunteer work if you’re able to add this to your schedule.  
  9. If stress starts to interfere with your daily activities and academics, consider reaching out to a licensed mental health professional. You can schedule a no-cost video or phone appointment with Counseling Services by calling 530-752-0871 or through Health e-Messaging. 

Take Action

​Aggies Vote

Information on key dates and deadlines, voter registration, California Ballot Measures, resources for UC Davis students and the ASUCD Voter Guide.

Yolo Elections Office

Provides a voter Assistance Center, ballot drop box locations, and a searchable using an easy-to-use interactive map

California Secretary of State

Where is my polling place? Will I need to bring identification? What voting system will I use? Find voter information guides and a first time voter checklist. 

California Statewide Election Results

USA.gov

Information on voting absentee or voting by mail and early voting. Visit your state election office website or contact your local election officials to find out if you can vote by mail. Or, use Can I Vote to go right to your state's absentee voting page. 

“Easy Voter Guides” in five languages

The League of Women Voters publishes this non-partisan guide.

More Days, More Ways to Vote

The California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) modernizes elections in California by allowing counties to conduct elections with greater flexibility and convenience for voters. This election model allows voters to choose how, when, and where to cast their ballot by:

  • Mailing every voter a ballot
  • Expanding in-person early voting
  • Allowing voters to cast a ballot at any vote center within their county
  • Providing secure ballot drop off locations throughout the county 

Understand the Issues

When it comes to our hopes and aspirations for any election—"History Matters and Futures Matter"*

*this title refers to the The Five Pedagogical Stances of the Transformative Justice in Education Center

While the intent of democracy is to provide “an environment that respects human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in which the freely expressed will of people is exercised," according to the United Nations, voting in the United States contains histories in which the voices of numerous peoples of different genders, races and ethnicities have been suppressed.

Black men were given the right to vote in 1870, yet laws, including poll taxes, literacy tests and grandfather clauses—many of which were enacted in Southern states—suppressed Black voting rights until 1965. Women did not receive the right to vote until 1920. Native Americans were not granted U.S. citizenship until 1924. Chinese immigrants and their American-born families were barred from being U.S. citizens and thus given the right to vote until the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943. Puerto Ricans who live on the island territory do not have representation in Congress nor do they vote in presidential elections.

It is important to remain cognizant of these histories of suppression even in today’s election season. At the same time, we each have a responsibility to do what we can to be engaged in the civic process in order to see our way to a better future. 

Many UC Davis faculty members are experts in freedom of speech, voting rights, civil rights and politics involving various racial and ethnic groups. UC Davis has compiled a complete list of faculty experts on election topics— here are just a few:

On voting rights: Greg Downs, is a CAMPSAAH affiliate, professor and chair of the Department of History. Professor Downs is also an expert on 19th century America and the transformation of the Constitution around the end of slavery, the establishment of equal protection under the law, and the extension of voting rights.

On African American history, civil rights, Black power movement: Traci Parker, associate professor of history, is a specialist in African American history. Her work focuses on the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, labor, consumer capitalism, gender, and sexuality.

On racial and ethnic politics, especially Latinx politics: Brad Jones, professor of political science, teaches and does research in the field of race and ethnic politics, particularly emphasizing immigration policy, attitudes and opinion about immigration, and Latinx politics more generally. 

On free speech: Ashutosh (Ash) Bhagwat, the Boochever and Bird Endowed Chair for the Study and Teaching of Freedom and Equality at the School of Law, is a nationally recognized expert on free speech and the First Amendment, their relationship to democracy, and the implications of new technology such as social media for free speech.

Win or Lose, Women Are Seeking Election for the Long Haul UC Davis Researchers Analyzed 7 Decades of Election Results

The Conversation: Why Do Some People Think Fascism Is Greatest Expression of Democracy?  Donald Trump One of the Many Political Leaders Who Has Claimed He Embodies the 'Voice of the People