Resolution in Support of Voter Registration Efforts

Resolution Number: RF20-405
September, 2020
Whereas: 
As “The City’s University,” San Francisco State University is committed to the development of the whole life experience, including service and participation at the local, state, and national levels. As an important election season approaches, the Academic Senate—itself a reflection of deliberative values—affirms the importance of exercising the right to vote and encourages active involvement in this critical process of civic engagement.
Whereas: 
SF State’s mission is rooted in social justice, community engagement, and service;
Whereas: 
Voting is an extension of the desire to serve, a way of achieving more widespread and lasting change; and
Whereas: 
Ballots will be mailed October 5, 2020 to registered voter address for the November 3, 2020 General Election
Whereas: 
SF State has committed itself to lively and widespread efforts to encourage voter registration and voter education; and
Whereas: 
SF State has been nationally recognized for finding innovative ways to encourage eligible students to vote; establishing a voting precinct and polling place on campus; and, informing voters by hosting panel discussions and programs while fostering community engagement through student clubs and student government; and
Whereas: 
The CSU Executive Order 1100 released on revised August 2019 reaffirmed the learning outcomes of the General Education program of all campuses to include Personal and Social Responsibility in order “to fit within the framework of the four ‘Essential Learning Outcomes’ drawn from the Liberal Education and American Promise (LEAP) campaign;”
Whereas: 
the Associated Students, in collaboration with the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE), Students Events and Activities, the Academic Senate, and other organizations, is organizing the Voter Involvement and Civic Engagement (VICE) Task Force to organize voter involvement and engagement in the Fall including the students-centered online voting drive and FAQ’s at http://asi.sfsu.edu/voting-information/;
Whereas: 
President Lynn Mahoney has steadfastly encouraged faculty, staff, and students to participate in all levels of civic engagement
Whereas: 
By engaging in voter registration activities, faculty can model their commitment to the society beyond the University that we also encourage in community service learning courses, therefore be it
Resolved: 
That the SF State Academic Senate strongly endorses the non-partisan voter registration campaigns of fall 2020, and be it further
Resolved: 
That the SF State Academic Senate strongly encourages students, faculty, administrators, and staff to register to vote using the ICCE website https://icce.sfsu.edu/elections or check their voter registration status at https://registertovote.ca.gov/ or their appropriate state website
Resolved: 
That the SF State Academic Senate invite all faculty members to participate in a manner that is most appropriate for them, including staffing a voter-registration table, assisting in online voting registration, or discussing with their students the importance of making informed choices in the electoral process.
Resolved: 
That the SF State Academic Senate invite all students, faculty, administrators, and staff to consider early voting.