Election Info
FOR STUDENTS AGES 16–17 IN OAKLAND & BERKELEY
get ready to vote!
If you’re 16 or 17 and live in Oakland or Berkeley, you can preregister now so you’re ready to vote in school board elections.
Get Started:
- Preregister to vote
- Learn what the school board does
- Talk with friends about issues that affect your school
- If you’ve moved recently, preregister again with your new address
Voter Education Weeks – April 13–24, 2026
This is your moment to get ready to vote!
If you’re 16 or 17 and live in Oakland or Berkeley, you can preregister now so you’re ready to vote in school board elections.
What to do this week:
- Preregister to vote
- Join a voter education activity at your school
- Learn what the school board does
- Talk with friends about issues that affect your school
- If you’ve moved recently, preregister again with your new address
Youth Voting in School Board Elections
In Oakland and Berkeley, young people have the power to shape their schools. If you are 16 or 17, you can preregister to vote now. Your registration will automatically activate when you become eligible, so you’re ready to vote in school board elections. School board decisions impact your daily life, from mental health support to school funding, programs, and policies. Youth voting makes sure students have a voice in those decisions.
WHAT YOU'RE VOTING FOR
You help elect the school board member representing your district. School board decisions affect things you deal with every day in schools:
- School funding and programs
- Policies
- Mental health and student support
- School safety and climate
- Graduation requirements and opportunities
Voting in school board elections means having a voice in these decisions.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Students experience schools every day—but decisions are often made without them. Youth voting changes that.
In Oakland, students organized to win the right to vote in school board elections, creating one of the first youth voting systems in a major U.S. city.
This is about having a real say in your education.
Voter Education Weeks – April 13–24, 2026
WHY IT MATTERS
If you’re 16 or 17 and live in Oakland or Berkeley, you can preregister now so you’re ready to vote in school board elections.
What to do this week:
- Preregister to vote
Join a voter education activity at your school - Learn what the school board does
- Talk with friends about issues that affect your school
Youth Voting in School Board Elections
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters is using California’s pre-registration system–the system that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote in California as a whole–as the system to register 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in their local school board races in Oakland or Berkeley. Therefore, a resident of Oakland or Berkeley who is 16- or 17- years old and who is otherwise eligible must use California’s pre-registration system (https://registertovote.ca.gov) to register to vote as a “youth voter.” Any 16- or 17- year-old residing in Oakland or Berkeley who previously pre-registered to vote will be automatically registered as a youth voter.
the November 5, 2024, school board election
Key information and dates:
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters is using California’s pre-registration system–the system that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote in California as a whole–as the system to register 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in their local school board races in Oakland or Berkeley. Therefore, a resident of Oakland or Berkeley who is 16- or 17- years old and who is otherwise eligible must use California’s pre-registration system (https://registertovote.ca.gov) to register to vote as a “youth voter.” Any 16- or 17- year-old residing in Oakland or Berkeley who previously pre-registered to vote will be automatically registered as a youth voter.
Youth voters can participate in elections through California’s pre-registration system. Early voting and mail-in voting options are available—check your local Registrar of Voters for current deadlines.
- Voter Information Guides will be mailed to all voters, including youth voters, starting Thursday, September 26, 2024.
- All voters, including youth voters, will be mailed a mail ballot starting the week of October 7, 2024.
- The last day for all voters, including youth voters, to register online to vote is Monday, October 21, 2024, although all voters, including youth voters, may register to vote in person at the Registrar of Voters’ office (1225 Fallon St., Oakland) through Election Day.
- The last day for all voters, including youth voters, to request a mail ballot replacement is Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
- In addition, from when early voting begins on Monday, October 7, 2024, through Election Day on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, youth voters can vote in person at the Registrar of Voters’ office (1225 Fallon St., Oakland).