Campus Elections

There are a series of steps that campus departments, campus organizations, individuals, student governments, and non-student government groups of students must follow in order to be placed on the spring CEC ballot.  (See current CEC Guidelines for more detail.)

1. Intent Form – All ballot hopefuls must file an intent to gather petition signatures.  This is typically due in October for the following spring ballot. 
2. Signature Gathering – All ballot hopefuls must submit signatures from at least 15% of the eligible voting population(s) by the published deadline (typically the beginning of the 5th week of winter quarter).
3. Proposal Form – All ballot sponsors who meet the signature threshold will be required to complete a proposal form (typically due the 7th week of winter quarter).
4. Formulating Ballot Language – All ballot sponsors must work with CEC to refine ballot language, answer questions, and provide requested information (typically weeks 7-10 of winter quarter). 
5. Campaign Meeting – All ballot sponsors must attend a mandatory campaign meeting (typically the 9th week of winter quarter).

The election takes place the fourth week of spring quarter and lasts 4 days.  Results are released to the ballot sponsors and the media once verified by Audit Services.  Results must then be accepted by the Chancellor and approved by the UC President before a fee may be collected.       

Departments or groups wishing to pursue a mandatory fee measure have three options:

1. They may propose a fee (for either undergraduates only or undergraduates and graduates combined) through the Campus Elections Commission (CEC), or
2. They may propose a fee (for undergraduates only) through Associated Students (AS), or
3. They may propose a fee (for graduates only) through the Graduate Students Association (GSA).  

Please note: the election in which students vote to approve or deny a mandatory fee takes place with a consolidated combined ballot comprising student body officers, AS or GSA fee measures, and CEC fee measures. 

Deciding which process to pursue will depend on a number of factors.  Departments and groups wishing to sponsor a fee measure should consider the following:

1. Reaffirmation timelines and thresholds for renewal: The length of time the fee will be collected before needing to be renewed with a new vote.  Each entity has standard reaffirmation timelines, and rules for voting thresholds needed to renew a fee in the future. 
2. Calendar: The process of initiating a fee measure requires a series of steps.  Each entity has their own timeline for tasks such as collecting signatures on petitions, submitting ballot language, and campaigning. 
3. Thresholds for passing a fee: The number of “yes” votes needed for a fee measure to pass.  Each entity has set standards and scales which determine the threshold for passage.  Some are simple majority, and others depend on voter turnout.  See CEC Guidelines, AS Elections Code, and/or GSA bylaws for more information.
4. Administrative costs: The amount of money taken from the fee to cover the cost of administrating the fee and covering financial aid.  These costs may vary slightly between CEC, G.S.A. and A.S.  Note: All new fees and increases to existing fees passed 2006 or later are subject to a 25% return-to-aid surcharge.  All new fees and increases to existing fees passed 2009 or later are subject to an administrative assessment, determined annually by the Budget Office, student government, and the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. 
5. Current fees already paid to the department or group: Those wishing to increase/decrease/discontinue an existing fee may only do so with the entity who originally or currently administers the fee (i.e., a change to an existing CEC fee may only be processed and voted on through the CEC ballot process; a change to an existing AS fee may only be processed and voted on through the AS ballot process; and a change to an existing GSA. fee may only be processed and voted on through the GSA ballot process.).
6. Agreements with student populations: Ballot language is binding and contractual.  Departments and groups may wish to set up different agreements with undergraduate students than with graduate students.  Depending on the nature of these agreements, some ballot processes may no longer be available.  For instance, CEC will not allow undergraduates and graduates to vote on a combined ballot for a fee measure that intends to charge undergraduate and graduate students two different amounts.  Fee sponsors must instead work with the three entities to figure out which process(es) make the most sense.