Dear Colleagues,

The Presidential and General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, will be here before we know it. University of California faculty, staff, and students will join millions of Americans across the country and fulfill their civic duty by casting their ballot for various federal, state, and local offices, and for or against a wide range of state and local issues including bond measures. We encourage all of you to participate in the electoral process. For more information on your voter status or to register to vote, visit the California Secretary of State’s website: Election 2024.

The UCR Voting Center, located at the UCR Alumni & Visitors Center, will be open:

• November 2-4 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• November 5 | 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Election Day)

We also want to remind the campus community that there are legal restrictions on University of California 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. The University may not endorse/oppose (or contribute to) political candidates, nor may University resources (including University-paid time or equipment) be used for campaign purposes in connection with ballot propositions or candidates.

We want to emphasize that the University does not restrict any member of the University community — student, academic appointee, or staff employee — from exercising their right to engage in political activity in their private capacity. However, under California law and University policy, the following restrictions apply to the UC:

• Use of University facilities or resources (including time on the job) is prohibited for purposes of promoting or opposing candidates or ballot measures, , except as specifically permitted by University regulations.
• Urging voters to vote a particular way while speaking on behalf of the UC or if there is a risk of being perceived as speaking on behalf of the UC is prohibited.

Please remember that while you are free in your private individual capacity to endorse any political candidate or either side of a ballot initiative, you must avoid any improper inference of University endorsement of a particular position. A University employee may use their University title for identification purposes, and include a disclaimer that clearly explains the title is for identification purposes only and does not reflect University endorsement or opposition.

Again, the limitations discussed here in no way constitute prohibitions on the right to express political views by any individual in the University community. Members of the University community are encouraged to participate in the political process, including supporting candidates and taking positions on ballot measures using their personal resources on their own time.

For more information and in-depth resources, please visit: UC Office of General Counsel (OGC).  

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Romero, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Governmental & Community Relations

Lorena Peñaloza, Chief Campus Counsel

P.S. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact either or both of us.