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The Voter 11/26/2025

Published on 11/26/2025

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

The official newsletter of the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County.

Vol 67 | Issue11 | Date: Nov 26, 2025

In this issue:

A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE

Dear League members, supporters, and friends,

As we think about what we’re grateful for this Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind is you – our members and all of you who support the League and what we do. We couldn’t do it without your support and generosity. Thank you.

We’re also thankful for the many nonprofits that provide needed aid and services in SLO County. Too many in our communities are experiencing especially difficult times this holiday season. We ask that you consider donating to a local nonprofit so that everyone in our community can enjoy the holidays and share in the blessings of our beautiful county. This Tribune article from last year lists some worthy organizations to consider.

Wishing you all a joyous Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Janice Langley, Joanne Schultz, Wendy Brown and Jacquie Canfield
Your LWV SLOCO Leadership Team

THE LEAGUE SPEAKS OUT

The League of Women Voters Issued the Following Statement on President Trump’s Claims that Lawmakers’ Dissent Equals “Seditious Behavior”.

“The President’s suggestion that lawmakers should face death for upholding the rule of law is not political rhetoric — it’s an authoritarian threat that shatters every democratic norm. No leader in a functioning democracy invokes death as punishment for dissent. Doing so endangers our institutions, our public servants, and the foundations of democratic governance.

"At a moment when Americans need real solutions to the growing crises impacting their lives, the President is choosing violent intimidation over governing.

"He chooses division. We choose the American people—our safety, our freedom, and our future. We will keep choosing unity, dignity, and shared promise of a democracy that protects us all. And we will stand up, speak out, and keep fighting to protect it.”

See the full statement here.

Class Action Lawsuit Challenges Unlawful “National Data Banks” that Consolidate Personal Information Across Federal Agencies.

The League of Women Voters, Leagues of Virginia and Louisiana, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), have joined five individual plaintiffs to file a class action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s creation of massive government databases to consolidate sensitive and legally protected personal information on millions of people in America in order to open investigations and purge voter rolls.

The complaint alleges that the administration has unlawfully merged personal data from across the federal government into centralized “Interagency Databases” in direct violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 and the US Constitution.

The case is League of Women Voters v. US Department of Homeland Security. The coalition is represented by Democracy Forward, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and the Fair Elections Center.

See more on the case here.

League of Women Voters Sues Over Ban on Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies.

LWV and five state and local Leagues are suing the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the US Department of Homeland Security, and other federal officials for enacting — without following the required process — a new rule that bars nonpartisan civic engagement groups from providing voter registration and civic engagement at administrative naturalization ceremonies.

“Purposely excluding groups like the League from administrative naturalization ceremonies is a deliberate move by this administration to exclude new citizens from the democratic process and attack the League’s very mission to register and support new voters,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of LWV.

The newly enacted rule violates the First Amendment rights of the League and other civic groups and fails to adhere to provisions that require federal agencies to follow transparent procedures when adopting new policies.

See the press releaseto learn more.

League of Women Voters Seeks to Protect California Voter Data.

To protect the data of all California voters, the League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) has filed a motion in federal court to intervene in USA v. Weber, the US Department of Justice’s case against the California Secretary of State. The DOJ has repeatedly attempted to intrude upon states’ authority to manage elections by demanding extensive voter information from at least 38 states.

“Participation in a democracy should empower people, not force us to trade safety, privacy, or peace of mind to be heard, ” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “We stand firmly with our partners in California and across the country to stop unlawful overreach that threatens the privacy and security of voters. Safeguarding voter data is essential to safeguarding trust in our elections.”

The League of Women Voters of California is represented by the ACLU and the ACLU Foundations of Northern California and Southern California.

See the statement here.

Speak Out with the League

You can you amplify the League’s voice and increase our impact for change by responding to Action Alerts from LWVUS and LWVC. Sign up for LWV Action Alerts.

DIABLO CANYON RELICENSING

To Keep Diablo Canyon in Operation, California Coastal Commission Says More Land Should Be Conserved.

Diablo Canyon Image

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) met on November 6 to discuss the relicensing of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. As a condition for continuing operation of the plant the CCC wants to see greater mitigation efforts and more land conserved for natural habitat and public access.

The CCC’s recommended mitigation plan provides for conservation, public access, and tribal and public ownership of Diablo lands. It includes protection from development for 89% of Diablo lands outside the NRC licensed area. PG&E proposes no development on the remaining 11%. PG&E would be required to provide $5.6 million for managing the lands and establishing public access trails.

The California Coastal Commission’s mission is “protecting and enhancing California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations. It does so through careful planning and regulation of environmentally-sustainable development, rigorous use of science, strong public participation, education, and effective intergovernmental coordination.”

Read more about the November 6 CCC hearing here. The next CCC hearing on Diablo Canyon mitigation measures will be on December 11, 2025. See the agenda here.

LUNCH WITH THE LEAGUE REPLAYS

Watch the Replay Here

SLO County's top law enforcement leaders discuss how the law applies to immigrants.

Watch the Replay Here

Learn how rental registries work and how they can be used in rental market policy development.

Rental Registry links:Link 1 Link 2

2025 HOLIDAY PARTY

Eat, Drink and Be Merry with the League!
Join Us for our 2025 Holiday Party

📅Date: Thursday, December 11

🕘 Time: 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
📍 Location: Farmhouse Wine Lounge

Mix and mingle with other League members, their guests, and SLO County elected officials to celebrate the holiday season. Enjoy the inviting atmosphere and festive decor of the Farmhouse Wine Lounge in SLO. Relish savory and sweet nibbles and sip premier wines selected from Farmhouse's international offerings while celebrating the League’s greatest asset— YOU, our members!

Cost: $35 per person.

This event is limited to League members and guests. Advance registration is required. Register here.

2026 PROGRAM PLANNING MEETING

***** Save the Date *****
LWV SLOCO Program Planning Meeting

📅 Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
🕘 Time: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
📍 Location: United Methodist Church

Join us on Saturday, January 31, at the United Methodist Church in San Luis Obispo. We’ll discuss the issues that are most important to our members locally, what we’ve been doing and what more we want to do. We’ll also provide input to the national League as they develop the national program for 2026 – 2028.

These are troubling times for our democracy. The League is in the vanguard – speaking out and taking action to oppose authoritarianism. To make our actions more powerful and our voices louder League leadership needs to hear from you.

Mark your calendar now for this important meeting on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

NORTH COAST MEMBER SOCIAL

On November 15, members and guests from the north coast – Cambria, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Los Osos – gathered at Luna Coffee Bar in Cayucos for a Coastal Region Social. We enjoyed fresh pastries, hot coffee, and engaging conversation, while getting to know each other in a welcoming environment.

Attendees connected over topics like travel experiences, personal challenges, accomplishments, and thoughts on current events. They were also able to ask questions about the League’s mission and activities.

It was inspiring to see such thoughtful interaction: people actively listened, exchanged ideas, and formed new connections. A standout moment was when all three of the invited guests decided to become League members after learning more about the League.

We plan to recreate this experience for members in other areas of the county with future regional meetings where members can learn, connect, and get involved. Stay tuned for more information on a regional League meet-up near you.

LEAGUE VOLUNTEERS MAKE ELECTION DAY A SUCCESS

More than 50 League members and friends championed democracy on Election Day by staffing six precincts as part of the League’s Adopt-a-Poll initiative. We extend special thanks to our seasoned Inspectors: Janet George, Julie Rodewald, Joanne Schultz, and Jordan Blaquera, alongside first-time Inspectors Kim Ramos and Susan Devine. Their leadership was vital. We also welcomed new League members who joined our teams this year. They're already looking forward to serving again in June! A warm shout-out goes to Leigh Livick for recruiting AAUW members to staff the League's north county precinct. We appreciate all members who volunteered, whether with the League or other organizations.

Despite being a special, single-issue election, voter turnout was surprisingly strong. A highlight was the precinct near the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, which saw a steady stream of young, first-time voters. This energy was reflected in the final count, with the three local precincts reporting an equal number of precinct and provisional ballots. The day was filled with many special, memorable moments:

One voter recognized an inspector as his favorite third-grade teacher.
Nearly all the young voters in SLO sincerely thanked our teams for helping them navigate the process.
A family voted together, with the two older children enthusiastically completing their “children’s ballots”—future voters indeed!

A well-deserved thank you to our dedicated League members and to all poll workers who committed their time to making voting accessible and welcoming for every eligible citizen. Finally, we thank the voters who came out to celebrate and exercise this vital right of democracy.

VOLUNTEER TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY

California League Seeks Volunteers to be Legislative Analysts

Are you fascinated by the nuts and bolts of government?

Would you like to know more about how the League of Women Voters decides to support or oppose a bill or ballot measure?

Here’s your chance to expand your knowledge of state government and make a major contribution to the work of the League.

The League of Women Voters of California is seeking to expand its advocacy team and is looking for volunteers from local Leagues to review bills in the California Legislature and ballot measures headed to voters and help to determine when the League should take action.

Volunteers review and analyze bills, draft letters of support or opposition, and follow the legislation as it moves through the process. They receive training, work with experienced mentors, and can choose how many bills they want to take on. Most of the work takes place between March and August.

Find out more and apply to be a Legislative Analyst for the League here Leg Analyst Recruitment Form 2025.

UPCOMING EVENTS

LWV SLOCO provides information on upcoming community events which may be of interest to readers of the Voter. Inclusion on the list does not necessarily indicate LWV SLOCO endorsement of the event, or the opinions and actions of the sponsoring organization.

SLO Climate Coalition
Battery Energy Storage Systems
What’s happening?Law | Safety | Technology

📅 Date: Monday, December 1
🕘 Time: 12 pm
📍 Location: on Zoom

SLO Sierra Club
End of Year Earth Action Hour

📅Date: Wednesday, December 3
🕘 Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
📍 Location: hosted in San Luis Obispo (exact location emailed after registration)

Find more information and RSVP here.

Experience the Impact: Join a CAPSLO Program Tour!
Travel will be provided by CAPSLO.

📅Date: Thursday, December 11
🕘 Time: 11:00 am - 4:30 pm
📍 Location: meet at 1030 Southwood, SLO

Sign uphere.

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