The Graduate Student Council (GSC) reviewed joint resolutions to re-establish an on-campus voting booth and declare Stanford University a “sanctuary campus,” and considered a joint bill to amend the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) Constitution. 

The Joint Resolution Calling for the Re-Establishment of an On-Campus Election Booth and Expanded Access to In-Person Voting for Stanford Students calls on the University to work with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters to re-establish a centrally-located, ADA-accessible and well-advertised voting center. 

During the GSC meeting, UGS political action co-chair Laila Ali ’28 stated that there were vote centers for the 2024 general election located at Tresidder Memorial, but not for any elections within the 2025 cycle. County law allows vote centers to partner with academic institutions and conduct same-day registration, ballot drop-off and in-person voting. 

With the 2026 midterm elections and the California governor’s race approaching this November, the resolution states that access to voting centers is essential to Stanford’s commitment to civic responsibility, democratic participation and student leadership. 

“This bill is about ensuring students have access to voting booths and ensuring [voting] is something that we prioritize at the ASSU,” Ali ’28 said. Ali wrote the resolution and introduced it to the GSC.

The joint resolution recognizes that Stanford enrolls thousands of eligible voters, “many of whom lack access to private transportation, face time constraints due to academic and employment obligations or are unfamiliar with local election procedures” According to the resolution, these barriers disproportionately impact first-generation students, low-income students, first-time voters and students with disabilities.

At the Thursday meeting, Ali said she would gather data on undergraduate and graduate student vote center usage in previous elections. These numbers may help supplement the vote center logistics listed in the resolution, answering questions such as whether a second vote center for graduate students is needed and if so, where it should be located. 

The Joint Resolution to Declare Stanford University a Sanctuary Campus urges Stanford to declare itself a “sanctuary campus.” This designation would commit the university to protecting the rights of students, faculty and staff “regardless of immigration status” by instating a university policy that prevents campus security and local law enforcement from voluntarily assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or California Border Patrol (CBP) without a judicial warrant. The resolution also stipulates that the Office of the General Counsel review such warrants before allowing federal immigration enforcement officers access to private campus spaces. 

The GSC will vote on the resolution in late March or April. Currently, the resolution requests Stanford provide legal guidance to undocumented, mixed-status and international students. Future revisions to the resolution will likely list more measures for the university to implement. 

“Some of our priorities right now include [establishing] a permanent position for staff that would be serving the undocumented [community] specifically,” GSC co-chair and third-year J.D. candidate Laurel Kim said.

If passed, the Joint Bill to Submit a Constitutional Amendment Restructuring ASSU Fee Disbursement and Reserve Deposits will allow the student body to vote on two measures in the spring 2026 general election ballot. If passed by students in the spring, these measures will overhaul Student Activities Fee distributions and amend the ASSU Constitution. 

The amendment would formally remove “Standard Grants” as a funding category for Voluntary Student Organizations (VSOs). Standard Grants are mid-year funding grants that can cover expenses in addition to a VSO’s yearly funds. The UGS has not administered a Standard Grant since the 2022-23 academic year, relying solely on Annual Grants and Quick Grants instead. The change is intended to reduce confusion for Voluntary Student Organizations (VSOs) as they apply for funding and update the Constitution to reflect a system that is already in practice. 

“This is basically a housekeeping ballot measure to make sure our Constitution best reflects what we’re doing,” UGS chair David Sengthay ’26 said. Sengthay wrote the bill and the proposed amendment and presented them to the GSC. 

With the amendment in place, the ASSU would no longer deposit unspent Annual Grant funds into the reserve accounts of individual VSOs. Instead, unspent Annual and Quick Grant funds would return to the allocable pool for the following year, regardless of whether a VSO currently has a reserve account or not. Sengthay said the change is intended to increase equity across student organizations and prevent money from being amassed by a limited number of VSOs.

Each amendment requires at least two-thirds approval from the student body with at least 15% turnout and final approval by the Board of Trustees.

“Whether or not [students] want to vote yes or no on this, this [bill] is about putting [amendments] into the hands of the student body and empowering the principle of direct democracy,” Sengthay said.