Section § 2145

Explanation

This section designates the name of the law as the Student Voter Registration Act of 2003.

This article shall be known and may be cited as the Student Voter Registration Act of 2003.

Section § 2146

Explanation

This California law requires the Secretary of State to provide voter registration forms annually to high schools, community colleges, and state university campuses. They should also offer extra forms if a school requests them. Each form must come with a notice explaining who can register, and students can either return their forms by mail or deliver them in-person to local election officials or the Secretary of State directly.

Schools with automated class registration systems are expected to allow students to register to vote online through the Secretary of State's website. Other schools need to implement these systems within two years. The University of California is encouraged to do the same.

The Secretary of State is responsible for reporting annual student voter registration efforts to the Legislature, including counts of registration forms sent and returned. The overall goal is to ensure that all eligible students have a solid opportunity to register to vote, using methods like providing forms at key times and places or including online registration options.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2146(a) The Secretary of State shall annually provide every high school, community college, and California State University and University of California campus with voter registration forms. The Secretary of State shall provide additional forms to a school, free of charge, if so requested by a school.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2146(b) The Secretary of State shall provide a written notice with each registration form describing eligibility requirements and informing each student that he or she may return the completed form in person or by mail to the elections official of the county in which the student resides or to the Secretary of State.
(c)Copy CA Elections Code § 2146(c)
(1)Copy CA Elections Code § 2146(c)(1) (A) Every community college and California State University campus that operates an automated class registration system on or before January 1, 2008, shall, through an automated program, in coordination with the Secretary of State, permit students, during the class registration process, to apply to register to vote online by submitting an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State.
(B)CA Elections Code § 2146(c)(1)(B) A community college or California State University campus that does not operate an automated class registration system on or before January 1, 2008, shall, within two years of implementing an automated class registration system, through an automated program in coordination with the Secretary of State, permit students, during the class registration process, to apply to register to vote online by submitting an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State.
(2)CA Elections Code § 2146(c)(2) As soon as a community college or California State University or University of California campus complies with paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may continue, at his or her discretion, to provide the campus with voter registration forms unless the campus requests not to receive the voter registration forms.
(3)CA Elections Code § 2146(c)(3) The University of California is encouraged to comply with this subdivision.
(d)CA Elections Code § 2146(d) The Secretary of State shall submit to the Legislature, on or before January 1 of each year, a report on its student voter registration efforts pursuant to this article. This report shall include estimates as to how many voter registration forms were sent to high schools, community colleges, and California State University and University of California campuses; how many voter registration forms were submitted; and how many electronic affidavits of voter registration were submitted by students pursuant to subdivision (c).
(e)CA Elections Code § 2146(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that every eligible high school and college student receive a meaningful opportunity to apply to register to vote. It is also the intent of the Legislature that every school do all in its power to ensure that students are provided the opportunity and means to apply to register to vote. This may include providing voter registration forms at the start of the school year, including voter registration forms with orientation materials; placing voter registration forms at central locations, including voter registration forms with graduation materials; or providing hyperlinks to, and the Internet Web site address of, the Secretary of State’s electronic voter registration system in notices sent by electronic mail to students and placed on the Internet Web site of the high school, college, or university.

Section § 2147

Explanation

By July 1, 2018, California State University and California Community Colleges needed to set up a system for students who enroll online to submit their voter registration form electronically through the Secretary of State's website. The University of California is also encouraged to collaborate with the Secretary of State.

No later than July 1, 2018, the California State University and the California Community Colleges shall implement a process and the infrastructure to allow a person who enrolls online at the institution to submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State in accordance with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 2196). The University of California is encouraged to coordinate with the Secretary of State pursuant to this section.

Section § 2148

Explanation

This law requires every high school, community college, and California State University campus to appoint a contact person responsible for coordinating the distribution of voter registration cards. This person must provide their contact information, such as address, phone number, and email, to the Secretary of State. Although not mandatory, the University of California is encouraged to do the same.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2148(a) Every high school, community college, and California State University campus shall designate a contact person and provide his or her address, telephone number, and e-mail address, when possible, to the Secretary of State for the Secretary of State to contact in order to facilitate the distribution of voter registration cards, as provided under this article.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2148(b) The University of California is encouraged to comply with this subdivision.

Section § 2148.5

Explanation

The Secretary of State is responsible for promoting student voter registration and participation through a program called the Students Vote Project. This involves working with community colleges and state universities to provide necessary materials, like print calendars with civic and election dates, as outlined in the Education Code. Additionally, there must be a dedicated web page for the project, which includes crucial voting information and key dates for students.

(a)CA Elections Code § 2148.5(a) The Secretary of State shall promote and seek to improve student voter registration rates and participation by developing a Students Vote Project to implement the requirements of Section 66852 of the Education Code.
(b)CA Elections Code § 2148.5(b) Through the Students Vote Project, the Secretary of State shall provide to the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California, or campuses thereof, the materials and resources required by Section 66852 of the Education Code, including print calendars with civic- and election-related dates.
(c)CA Elections Code § 2148.5(c) The Secretary of State shall establish and maintain an internet web page for the Students Vote Project, which shall include the dates and information required to be distributed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 66852 of the Education Code.