Welcome to the Secretary of State’s Student Voting Programs portal!

This site contains important information about our office’s initiatives to educate and engage young Californians in the democratic process. We invite administrators, teachers, students and parents to use this page as a resource. This portal includes social media infographics, frequently asked questions and links to get young people informed and involved. 

  • pre-register at 16. vote at 18.

  • Online pre-registration is now available for eligible 16 and 17 year olds by visiting registertovote.ca.gov. California youth who pre-register to vote will have their registration become active once they turn 18 years old.

  • California Students Vote Project

  • Established in 2016, the California Secretary of State (SOS) Students Vote Project (SVP) is a statewide nonpartisan program that elevates college student voices and promotes civic engagement efforts to build a more inclusive democracy. Through the creation of the Students Vote Project, California was the first state in the nation to build partnerships across the state’s major higher education systems to empower students to participate in the democratic process.

  • California Student Mock Election

  • Young people have the potential to be a powerful force in elections, but only if they get involved and make voting a habit. To encourage students to become active voters once they are old enough to cast a ballot, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond invite high school and middle school students, teachers, and principals to participate in the 2024 California Student Mock Election, which will take place on October 8, 2024, for the General Election.

  • High School Voter Education Weeks

  • The California Education Code designates the last two full weeks in April and September to be High School Voter Education Weeks. This provides an opportunity for high schools and their students to partner with county elections officials to promote civic education and participation on campus and foster an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens.

  • Be a Student Poll Worker

  • Starting at age 16, high school students who are U.S. citizens, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, and have permission from their parent or guardian and school can learn how elections are run while they earn money as a student poll worker on Election Day.