SJSU Votes participated in the Environmental Resource Center’s (ERC) Sustainability Fair on Seventh Street on Tuesday, Oct. 8 during National Voter Education Week. “The sustainability fair is raising awareness about sustainability and different environmental issues,” ERC co-director Kaili Mallari said. During the event, SJSU Votes members assisted students in registering to vote and provided information about the upcoming state and national elections.
SJSU Votes Hosted a Trivia Night for National Voter Education Week
SJSU Votes hosted a Kahoot virtual Trivia Night on Tuesday, Oct. 8, celebrating National Voter Education Week. The event was led by Dr. Mary Currin-Percival, Director of SJSU Votes, who facilitated the game and refreshed students on the California registration and voting process, along with fun facts about California's government. Participants competed for the top spots, with the first and second-place winners receiving gift cards to Nirvana Soul coffee shop.
SJSU Votes Students Engage with SCC Supervisor Cindy Chavez at Don Edwards Lecture
SJSU Votes students attended the Don Edwards Lecture at the SJSU Student Union Theater, featuring a conversation with Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez on Oct. 3. The event, sponsored by the Department of Political Science and moderated by Mercury News journalist Sal Pizzaro, provided an in-depth look at Chavez's work representing District 2, which encompasses over half a million residents in the central, east and south San Jose areas. During the discussion, Chavez highlighted several key achievements from her tenure such as her successful efforts to prevent the closure of the trauma unit at Regional Medical Center, her work to halt the sale of leaded aviation fuel at Reid-Hillview Airport and her leadership in launching a public awareness campaign to combat the growing fentanyl crisis. The event gave students a unique opportunity to engage with Chavez directly. Before and after the event, SJSU Votes students also mobilized voters and provided SJSU Votes’ swag.
SJSU Votes Co-Sponsors Vice-Presidential Debate Watch Party
SJSU Votes and several campus organizations (Bridge SJSU, Pi Sigma Alpha, Associated Students and the SJSU Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) co-sponsored a watch party for the vice-presidential debate between Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance, which aired on CBS. Over 30 participants engaged in the event, with representatives from various campus organizations guiding discussions throughout the debate on Oct. 1. “We learned a lot more about the candidates and their policies during this debate compared to the presidential debate earlier this year,” Katelyn Gambarin, A.S. Director of Legislative Affairs, said. Special thanks go to Gambarin, SJSU Votes member Erin Gilhespie, Pi Sigma Alpha members Chima Nwokolo and Insiya Neemuchwala, Bridge SJSU Director of Outreach Samantha Sternstein, and Dr. Craig Alimo, SJSU ODEI for moderating the event and to Dr. Currin-Percival, SJSU Votes Director for organizing the event.
San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei spoke to Political Participation Students on Political Engagement and Public Service
On Oct 1., San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei visited Dr. Currin-Percival’s POLS 108 Political Participation class, offering a look into her public service career and her city council work. The class explores various forms of political engagement, from voting and community involvement to driving social change. Addressing an audience of more than 20 students, Kamei discussed her journey in politics, highlighting the importance of active participation in local government and the impact of public service on communities. She also gave advice on pursuing careers in elected office, answering questions about the challenges and rewards of campaigning. In addition to discussing her path, Kamei offered guidance on finding internship opportunities and gaining hands-on political experience.
Another Great SJSU Votes Festival!
Our signature event, the SJSU Votes Festival, was bigger than ever. This year, the event celebrated National Voter Registration Day and Constitution Day and was held on the entire 7th St. Paseo at SJSU from 11am-7pm on 9/17/25. We partnered with the SCC ROV for this exciting event. Over 40 campus and community partners joined the event. Attendees were able to obtain nonpartisan voter registration information as well as information about other civic engagement opportunities and about the U.S. Constitution. There was a DJ and a band, so the Paseo was filled with music. In the morning, multiple speakers joined for a Political Science Alumni event at the stage. President Teniente-Matson, Dean Todd, and Dr. Currin-Percival were joined by Mayor Matt Mahan, Councilmembers Bien Doan and Domingo Candelas, Assemblymembers Ash Kala and Alex Lee, and Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who all spoke about the importance of civic engagement. SJSU Votes received a Certificate of Recognition from the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors in recognition of the SJSU Votes Festival. Here is a link to a great article in the Spartan Daily about the event. Here is a story from NBC Bay Area News. Here is another story from ABC Bay Area! SJSU Votes is extremely grateful for all of our campus and community partners. We hope to see you all at our 2025 SJSU Votes Festival!
SJSU Votes Co-Sponsors Presidential Debate Watch Party
SJSU Votes and other campus organizations co-sponsored a hybrid presidential debate watch party on Sept. 10, 2025. The virtual watch party was sponsored by representatives from Democrats at SJSU, Pi Sigma Alpha and Associated Students on Zoom. Bridge SJSU hosted an in-person event in the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Around 40 individuals participated evenly between in-person and online. Representatives from the campus organizations facilitated discussion throughout the debate. “I think this debate has shifted my perspective on who to vote for,” Participant Carlos Flores said. Thank you SJSU Votes member Diya Agrawal, Pi Sigma Alpha member Leanna Yanes Cruz, president of Democrats at SJSU Chima Nwokolo, Bridge SJSU director of outreach Samantha Sternstein and A.S. director of legislative affairs Katelyn Gambarin for leading the dialogue.
SJSU Move in Day
On Aug. 16 and 17, SJSU Votes participated in campus move-in, welcoming transfer students and freshmen into their dorms for the upcoming school year. We tabled outside the housing quad and spoke to students about the importance of voting. When stopping by our table, students were able to grab some fun and cool voter swag, such as pens, posters and stickers. They also wrote why it is important to vote and signed pledge cards, pledging to vote, volunteer in their community, and/or talk to others about being civically engaged. All of this made students more motivated to use their vote and vote.
SJSU Votes Organizes Another Successful SJSU Votes Festival for National Voter Registration Day!
SJSU Votes organized the 2023 Votes Festival to celebrate National Voter Registration Day. It was the second annual SJSU Votes Festival celebrating NVRD and the 3rd SJSU Votes Festival. This year, 24 partners joined SJSU Votes on the 7th St Paseo to engage the SJSU community and supply them with important information and resources regarding voter registration, the importance of voting, and opportunities for civic engagement on and off campus. Here is a link to a great article in the Spartan Daily about the event. SJSU Votes is extremely grateful for all of our campus and community partners; we could not have done it without their outstanding participation. We hope to see you all at our next festival!
SJSU Votes Presents Voter Registration and Education Workshop for the SJSU Men’s Basketball Team
SJSU Votes created and presented an educational and informative powerpoint presentation on voter registration and the 2022 November General Election to the SJSU Men’s Basketball Team. We explained the importance of getting students registered and mobilizing them to vote. SJSU Votes detailed how to register to vote, registration deadlines and requirements, how to return your ballot and how to track your ballot. We also briefly reviewed all of the state ballot propositions and the rules about college student registration. Thank you to the SJSU Men’s Basketball Team. Go Spartans!