November 3rd is the official election day for the 2020 Election of the United States. This election year has been stressful and polarizing for our nation as well as our students. UC Riverside is one of the most diverse universities in California, and the outcome of the election will have a great impact on our students. To address these pressing concerns, students at UC Riverside urge our administrators, faculty and other members of our campus community to recognize and institutionalize a non-instructional day on November 3rd and for future elections. Election Day and the outcomes of our local, state and national elections affect every person, regardless of being able to vote or not. 

 In 2018, our school’s student voter turnout was represented by only 35% of the population. Highlanders are students, workers, parents, and are supporting themselves and their families during this time. In addition to voting, many students will be volunteering as poll workers, on campaigns, and contributing to Get Out the Vote efforts on Election Day To ensure that students turnout for this election, it is crucial that UC Riverside allows them the adequate time to vote.

In 2016 the University of California entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Secretary of State to increase civic engagement amongst students crafting policies and practices that would essentially encourage students to perform their civic duties such as voting. Following this memorandum, Governor Newsom had signed California Bill 963, the Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2020 to continue these efforts and to uphold the 2016 MOU.

It is our right to vote, and as a University of California institution, we should ensure that all students have the ability to vote without fear of being reprimanded by university staff and teachers.

Students of UC Riverside are calling on the Academic Senate, the Chancellor, professors, and TAs to have a non-instructional day on November 3rd.

• We advocate that all professors, teaching assistants, and all other administration officials cancel all instruction for the date of November 3, 2020, to allow ample time for all UCR students to vote and take a day for their mental health.
•  We call on the Academic Senate to ratify and adopt non-instructional days on election days as policy for future election voting dates 
• Let it be resolved that all future federal, state, and local election dates will be considered as an official school holiday so that future Highlanders need not worry about whether they will be able to vote or not.