What is the California University and College Ballot Bowl?
The California University and College Ballot Bowl is a friendly competition where higher education campuses compete to register students to vote, encourage students to submit a plan to vote, and showcase civic engagement efforts. The California Secretary of State Students Vote Project (SVP) hosts the Ballot Bowl during an even numbered year ahead of the general election.
The purpose of the California University and College Ballot Bowl is to:
- Engage students to become active participants in our democracy.
- Motivate campuses to adopt and implement policies that boost civic engagement and participation.
- Showcase best practices and civic engagement efforts on California campuses.
How to Play
The California University and College Ballot Bowl competition will have campuses compete to earn the most points to become the Ballot Bowl Champion. Campuses do not need to sign up to participate and can earn points by registering students to vote, encouraging students to submit a plan to vote and submitting a Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plan.
For a comprehensive overview of the competition along with social media graphics, view the 2026 California University and College Ballot Bowl Outreach Toolkit.
Competition Dates: Monday, August 10, 2026 – Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Competition Methods
The Ballot Bowl has a total of five methods totaling 2,000 points. The competition uses a weighted system so campuses of all sizes can have an opportunity to become the Ballot Bowl Champion.
- Number of Students Registered to Vote
- Percentage of Students Registered to Vote
- Number of Student Voting Plans Submitted
- Percentage of Student Voting Plans Submitted
- Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plans
How to Participate
California colleges and universities can participate in the Ballot Bowl by registering students to vote and having students submit a plan to vote. See the five ways below to learn more about how your campus can participate.
Methods 1 & 2: College Student Voter Registrations
California campuses can earn points based on the number and percentage of students who register to vote or update their voter registration. The percentage of students registered to vote will be based on a campus’s student body population.
The California Secretary of State Students Vote Project tracks college student voter registration using the tools below.
- Online voter registration
- Paper Voter Registration
- Paper voter registration cards (VRCs) can be requested from the California Secretary of State’s office by campuses. When requesting VRCs, campuses should make a note on the Voter Registration Card Statement of Distribution Form that the cards will be used for college students and to include the campus name.
- Email completed Voter Registration Card Statement of Distribution Form(s) to vrc-vnc@sos.ca.gov and caststudentsvote@sos.ca.gov.
- If you have any questions about requesting paper voter registration cards, please contact vrc-vnc@sos.ca.gov and copy caststudentsvote@sos.ca.gov.
Please note we are unable to track college student voter registrations for cards not issued by our office.
Methods 3 & 4: College Student Voting Plan Submissions
California campuses can earn points based on the number and percentage of students who submit a plan to vote. The percentage of student voting plans submitted will be based on a campus’s student body population.
The California Secretary of State Students Vote Project tracks college student voting plans using the tool below:
- The College Student Voting Plan Tool is an online form that can be used to create and submit a plan to vote for the upcoming statewide election.
- This form should be completed during the dates of the competition (Monday August 10 – Tuesday November 3).
- This tool will not be available until the start of the competition, which begins on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Method 5: Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plans
Campuses can earn points by submitting a Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plan (CVEAP) to caststudentsvote@sos.ca.gov on or before 11:59 PM, October 1, 2026. To learn how to draft an action and see how they are scored, view the Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plan Guidelines and Evaluation Rubric.
Track Your Campus’s Progress
Updates of each campus’s competition standings can be found at https://collegehub.sos.ca.gov.
Social Media Impact Challenge
Outside of the official competition, campuses can also be recognized for creating Instagram Reels related to the Ballot Bowl. All college students will be eligible to participate and multiple submissions are allowed. The single Instagram Reel that obtains the most views will help their campus win the Social Media Impact Award.
Instagram Reel Guidelines:
- Content is relevant to the Ballot Bowl.
- Posted on Instagram Reels during the Ballot Bowl competition dates.
- Appropriate, nonpartisan, and does not include any political iconography.
- Tag your campus and the CA SOS Instagram: @californiasos_.
- Use the #2026CABallotBowlReel hashtag for increased visibility.
- Ensure the reel is public.
If you have any additional questions about the Social Media Impact Challenge, please email caststudentsvote@sos.ca.gov or schedule Office Hours.
Awards and Campus Recognition
Ballot Bowl Champion
The campus who earns the most points at the end of the competition.
Social Media Impact Award
Given to the campus that creates an Instagram Reel and obtains the most views on a single reel by the end of the competition.
Campus Recognitions
Campuses that excel in various areas of the competition will be recognized for their outstanding performance. Below are the opportunities for campuses to earn recognition.
- Highest total points earned in each higher education system (excluding the Champion)
- Best Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plan for each higher education system
- Highest number of voter registrations
- Highest percentage of voter registrations
- Highest number of voting plan submissions
- Highest percentage of voting plan submissions
