Campus & community, Campus news

As election approaches, Berkeley students get out the vote

Rep. Barbara Lee was among those who rallied on campus on Friday

By Public Affairs

a crowd gathers on Sproul Plaza holding signs that say yes on prop 1
Students gathered to hear from Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Berkeley), who spoke to the crowd about Proposition 1 on the steps of Sproul Plaza. (UC Berkeley photo by Julian Meyn)

November 7, 2022

a crowd gathers on Sproul Plaza holding signs that say yes on prop 1
Students gathered to hear from Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Berkeley), who spoke to the crowd about Proposition 1 on the steps of Sproul Plaza. (UC Berkeley photo by Julian Meyn)
a crowd gathers on sproul plaza holding signs in favor of prop 1
Members of the campus community gathered in support of Proposition 1 during a rally on Friday. (UC Berkeley photo by Brandon Sanchez Mejia)
betty yee speaks to a crowd of people on Sproul Plaza
State Controller Betty Yee (second from left) speaks to the crowd on the steps of Sproul Plaza. (UC Berkeley photo by Julian Meyn)
people on sproul plaza holding signs that say no on prop 1 and say no to third trimester abortions
Some members of the campus community gathered in opposition to Proposition 1. (UC Berkeley photo by Brandon Sanchez Mejia)
two groups of demonstrators gather on sproul plaza
The two groups gathered on the steps of Sproul Plaza in the days before Tuesday's election. (UC Berkeley photo by Brandon Sanchez Mejia)
a photo of a person recording video on aniphone iwth a yellow case
Friday's rally was documented on smartphones and shared on social media. (UC Berkeley photo by Brandon Sanchez Mejia)

Two groups of Berkeley students gathered on Sproul Plaza on Friday to signal their positions on Proposition 1 — the California state proposition that will change California’s Constitution to say that the state cannot deny or interfere with a person’s reproductive freedom.

The rally came as students across the campus have been preparing for Tuesday’s election, which features local, state and federal races. Speakers at the Friday rally included Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Berkeley), State Controller Betty Yee and Malia Cohen, chair of the California State Board of Equalization.

Find more information about Tuesday’s election, including polling locations and campus ballot drops, from UC Berkeley’s Public Service Center.