Dear campus community,
I am writing to encourage all members of the University community, faculty, staff, students, and alumni, who are U.S. citizens, to please exercise your civic duty and vote on November 8. The decisions Americans will make in this election could not be more important to the country and our state. As a reminder, the last day to register to vote in California is October 24. More information about the November election and about registering to vote can be found on the California Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections.
I also want to take this opportunity to remind our campus community that University resources (including paid time of University employees and non-incidental use of University equipment and facilities) should not be used to campaign for or against any candidate for public political office or any initiative proposition that is on the ballot. University employees have a constitutional right to participate in political advocacy in their capacity as privatecitizens, but may not lawfully use public resources to engage in political campaigning for or against candidates or ballot measures and should take care to avoid any implication that their private political activities are carried out in their University capacities or are otherwise endorsed by the University.
The University has posted guidance on the applicable rules governing use of University resources in connection with campaign activities, particularly in the context of ballot initiatives, at the following url:
http://www.ucop.edu/state-governmental-relations/advocacy/legal-guidelines-ballot-campaigns.html.
All Best,
Nicholas Dirks
Chancellor