A voter registration drive and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Tuesday, April 19, to mark the installation of an official ballot drop box on campus.

The drop box is outside the northeast corner of Hunt Hall, opposite the Memorial Union bus terminal, and will stay there, permanently. The box will be put to use for the first time for the California primary, June 7 (the official drop-off period starts May 9).

Tuesday’s program is being hosted by UC Davis and the Yolo County Elections Office, in collaboration with the Davis League of Women Voters and the California secretary of state’s office.

The voter registration drive (and light refreshments) will be from noon to 3 p.m. on the MU's South Patio, and the ribbon-cutting at the drop-box will be from 2 to 2:30 p.m., presided over by Chancellor Gary S. May; the California secretary of state, Shirley N. Weber; and Yolo County’s chief election official, Jesse Salinas, who also serves as the county assessor and clerk-recorder.

Students and other members of the community are welcome to join the celebration. “We are pleased to continue to increase accessibility and turnout among Yolo County voters and are thankful to our partners that assist us in fulfilling this important mission for our community,” Salinas said.

Voters from other counties are also welcome to use the campus drop box, and Yolo County will forward those ballots to the proper election offices around the state.

Fostering citizen leaders

Chancellor May said he is grateful for the university’s longstanding partnership with Yolo County. “One of the primary goals of UC Davis is to help our students become citizen leaders in our democracy who exercise their right and duty to vote,” he said. “We also welcome other county voters who find UC Davis a convenient place to drop off their ballot.”

Secretary of State Weber said: “We know students have busy lives. A drop box on the campus of UC Davis is a wonderful innovation to help meet young voters where they are and help them develop the habit of voting.”

In November, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge recognized UC Davis for the most improved student voter rate among nearly 300 four-year public colleges and universities (from 43% in 2016 to 75.7% in 2020) and with a gold seal for excellence in student voter engagement. In 2004, UC Davis was the county’s first location for early voting outside of the county elections office.