Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and High School Principals:

Schools as Voting Locations and Student Poll Workers

We respectfully request your assistance in addressing the critical need for voting locations and poll workers for the November 3, 2026, General Election. By offering your campuses as voting locations and encouraging high school students to serve as poll workers, schools can play a meaningful role in supporting a successful election.

Public School Campuses as Voting Locations

Your local elections official may request the use of a public school campus as a voting location or vote center. We encourage you to consider these requests. State law provides school districts with flexibility in determining how to accommodate voting activities in a manner that best meets local needs.

Under Elections Code Section 12283, school districts may choose any of the following options:

1. Keep the school open and in session while designating a specific area for a voting location or vote center.

2. Designate the day or days as staff training and development days.

3. Close the school to students and nonclassified employees.

If your school agrees to participate, please notify your local elections office of your decision (see https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices).

Please note that schools serving as voting locations must have accessible parking for voters and have parking available for curbside voting as required by Elections Code Section 12283(e) (available at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=12283&lawCode=ELEC).

High School Students as Poll Workers

Elections officials consistently report that high school students are often the most helpful and enthusiastic poll workers. Students who serve in this role gain firsthand experience with the elections process and develop an early understanding of civic participation.

High school students who are at least 16 years of age, are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, and maintain a 2.5 grade point average are eligible to serve as poll workers. Some county elections officials may offer stipends for student poll workers. Students who serve as poll workers can receive an excused absence. Under Education Code Section 48205(a)(12) students in grades 6–12 may receive one excused absence per year to participate in a civic or political event with prior notice (see https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB73).

We encourage you to make every effort to accommodate the use of your campuses as voting locations and to assist local elections officials by identifying students who may be eligible and interested in serving as poll workers. This opportunity supports civic education and the administration of elections.

If you have questions, please contact Jannell Jackson, Deputy Secretary of State for Outreach and Education, at SoSOutreach@sos.ca.gov or 916-584-3538, or the California Department of Education High School Innovations and Initiatives Office at 916-319-0893 or HSIIO@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D.
California Secretary of State