Campus Elections
Every spring, UC Santa Cruz holds its consolidated Campus Elections—an all-student vote on leadership positions in the Student Union Assembly and Graduate Student Association, as well as proposed student fee referenda. Conducted entirely online, the process includes ranked-choice voting for SUA officer races and strict eligibility and voting thresholds to ensure meaningful outcomes.
Participation has steadily increased in recent years, with over 30% of undergraduates and nearly a quarter of graduate students voting in some cycles. Students play a vital role in shaping campus life—vote to make your voice heard.
Elections Policy
The campus elections policy provides guidelines and outlines how students make their voices heard via campus elections at UCSC!
The Campus Elections Policy explains how official student elections are run and outlines the procedures for conducting official students elections for UC Santa Cruz. It ensures students have a direct voice in campus decisions—like voting on student fees, referenda, and student government elections. The policy is stewarded by the Dean of Students Office, with the Associate Dean of Students for Leadership and Engagement serving as the Campus Elections Commissioner. If any part of this policy conflicts with UC system-wide policy, the UC system-wide policy will take precedence.
Campus Based Fee Policy (Section 80) of the Student Handbook
Current Elections Cycle (2026)
The Dean of Students Office is pleased to announce the 2026 Campus Elections process. Students, staff, and faculty will have the opportunity to propose new campus based fees, propose amendments to existing campus-based fee measures, propose amendments to the Student Union Assembly (SUA) constitution, or survey the student community using an opinion poll- all of which can be placed on the official ballot for the 2026 Campus Elections.
The elections will be held during spring quarter, beginning at noon on Monday, April 27, and closing at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026.
If you are interested in initiating a referendum for the 2026 Campus Elections ballot, please be sure that at least one representative from your author group attends one of the mandatory Campus Elections Orientation sessions. The orientation provides an overview of the Campus Elections process, timeline, relevant policies, and includes resources and guidance on how to author a referendum, opinion poll, or amendment.
All potential referenda authors are also required to submit a completed 2026 Campus Elections Application. Additionally, if an author is proposing a new student fee OR proposing an amendment to an existing student fee measure, they are also required to submit the Supplemental Fee Measure Referenda Form. In drafting language for the ballot, you may wish to review examples from previous elections, which you can do below in the Campus Elections Archive section of this webpage, as well as all enacted fees under the Enacted Fees section of this webpage.
Please note that submission of this application along with draft referendum language for those groups proposing a new fee or fee amendment for facility-related projects are due Monday, Nov. 24 2025 by 11:59 p.m. The deadline for all other new fees or fee amendment (non-facility-related) referenda is Monday, Dec., 2025, by 11:59 p.m.
Campus Elections Archive
The Campus Elections Archive provides access to past election results and materials from previous years at UC Santa Cruz. It includes records of student government election outcomes, as well as the full text and language of many proposed and approved student fees, referenda, and opinion polls. Whether you’re doing research, reflecting on campus history, or aiming to get involved, this archive offers a transparent, accessible window into how student voice has shaped our campus through the elections process. The archive helps preserve student history and transparency in campus decision-making.
Enacted Fees
The Enacted Fees section highlights student fees that have been approved and implemented through past campus elections at UC Santa Cruz. Each fee listed here was voted on and supported by students, reflecting the power of student voice in shaping campus life. These fees help fund programs, services, and initiatives that enhance the student experience and strengthen the UCSC community.
Vote
The 2026 Campus Elections will be held during Spring quarter, beginning at noon on Monday, April 27, 2026, and closing at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026.
This is where you will come to access your ballot, vote and make your student voice heard in the upcoming Campus Election!
Check back on this section closer to the start of the election dates for a sample ballot, and eventually, the live ballot itself!
