Dear CCA Students, Faculty, and Staff:
Today is National Voter Registration Day, and we are only 42 days away from the U.S. general election—Tuesday, November 3. I’m writing today to encourage every member of our community who is eligible to vote to make sure you are registered and ready to make your voice heard. See below for information on how to register and vote, and how to get involved as a creative citizen (even if you’re not eligible to vote in the U.S. election).
Your vote matters. Voting is a form of activism and now, more than ever, it’s essential for a strong democracy. Young adults (ages 18–29) comprise more than 20% of eligible voters in the U.S., yet turnout among this age group has reached record lows in recent years. Let’s turn this trend around together.
At CCA, we’re committed to working with students, faculty, staff, and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting. That’s why I have personally signed the Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation for the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, and I am championing the work of Creative Citizens in Action (CCA@CCA). Our goal is to increase student voting rates, help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, and make democratic participation a core value on our campus.
In addition, CCA’s San Francisco campus is an official Polling Place on Election Day, so CCA students living on our near campus, as well as our surrounding community members, will have a close and accessible place to cast their vote.
Here’s what you can do to make your voice heard at the polls on Election Day:
Join today’s virtual Register to Vote Session from 12:30–1:30 pm PT
Attend one of our upcoming Creative Citizens in Action events
Talk to your friends and family about the importance of voting
And to those in our community who are not eligible to vote—you have a stake in this too. You can still be creative citizens in action, and I invite you to participate in the conversation.
To support course efforts tied to democratic engagement, I’m pleased to announce that 10 faculty members have received funding from a new endowment gift to launch The Deborah and Kenneth Novack Creative Citizens Series, an annual series of public programs focused on creative activism that spans the disciplines of art, design, architecture, and writing.
Your vote is your voice. Please join me and the entire CCA community in making our voices heard.
Sincerely,
Stephen Beal, President