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The Voter 2/13/24

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

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

Vol 65 | Issue 12 | Date: February 13, 2024

In this issue:

MARCH 5 PRIMARY ELECTION

Election Information You Need
Make a Plan and Vote!

Are You Registered?The last day to register to vote is February 20. You must be registered at your current address. Registerhere.

Have You Received Your Ballot? Ballots were mailed last week and have been arriving in county mailboxes.

If you have not received your ballot checkyour registration status.
Sign up for "Where’s My Ballot". "Where’s My Ballot" will send notifications when your ballot has been mailed, received and counted.

What’s On Your Ballot?In addition to the Presidential contest, there are contests for United States Senator (2), United States Representative, State Senate and State Assembly. These contests are voter-nominated contests. In these contests all voters can participate and the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of the candidate’s party, will be on the ballot in November to determine the eventual winner. There is also a proposition on the ballot: Proposition 1.

Why are There Two Contests for One US Senate Seat?State law allows the Governor to appoint a successor if there is a vacancy in the office of US Senate. When Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away, Governor Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to replace her until the 2024 election. On the March 5 ballot, voters will be asked to vote on her replacement for the period from the General Election until January 3, 2025 (when Feinstein’s term would have expired). Voters will also have the full term contest on their ballot, for the period from January 3, 2025 to January 3, 2031. Voters can vote in both contests and, again, the two candidates with the most votes in each separate contest will be on the ballot in November. The candidate winning the partial term will be sworn in to serve from the General Election until January 3, 2025 and the candidate winning the full term will be sworn in on January 3, 2025 to serve until January 3, 2031.

Superior Court Judges:Three newly appointed Superior Court Judges are on the ballot in uncontested elections. The California Constitution requires that these judges run for election in the first election after their appointment. Once elected their terms will be for 6 years.

County Supervisor:There are three County Supervisor contests on county ballots for Districts 1, 3 and 5. In the contests for Districts 1 and 3, the incumbents are running unopposed. In District 5, there are two candidates on the ballot. In these two-candidate, non-partisan contests, the candidate who receives more than 50% of the vote will be declared the winner and there will be no run-off in November.

Redistricting Changes: The Board’s action to settle the redistricting lawsuit filed by SLOCCGG and redraw the lines adopted by the Board in 2021 will impact citizens in the areas where a vote for supervisor was delayed following the 2021 redistricting changes. Voters in the areas of Morro Bay, Los Osos, and parts of the city of San Luis Obispo were moved back into District 2 and Oceano was moved back into District 4. The contests for Districts 2 & 4 will be on the ballot in 2026. Other areas, such as Atascadero and parts of the City of San Luis Obispo were moved back into Districts 5 and 3 respectively; and therefore voters in those areas will be voting for a county supervisor in this election. If you are unsure what supervisorial district you live in, check your voting districts here.

Proposition 1:Your ballot will include a single funding measure called Proposition 1. If approved, this measure will authorize changes to the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to redirect some MHSA funding to different purposes, and add $6.4 billion in bond funding to increase housing and services for mental health.To learn who is financing the campaigns for and against Proposition 1, visit the Secretary of State websitehere. Read about or watch a video of the LWV California Pros and Conshere.

Candidate and Election Information Available onVOTE411:

VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the following aspects of the election process:

•Absentee ballot information	•Ballot measure information (where applicable)
•Election dates	•Early voting options (where applicable)
•ID requirements	•Polling place locations
•Registration deadlines	•Voter qualifications
•Voter registration forms	•Voting machines
•Factual data on candidates in various federal, state and local races
•General information on such topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye

Want to know more?For election news & resources visitCAVotes.org. If you have questions about the election or voting, download the Easy Voter Guidehere. It's available in 5 languages (English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese).

Did You Get the Ballot of the Party of Your Choice? In the Presidential Primary, the party with which you are registered determines the ballot you will receive.If you are a No Party Preference voter you will receive a ballot with no presidential candidates.If you are registered as No Party Preference but want to vote in the presidential primary, you need to take action:

To vote for a Republican, Green or Peace and Freedom presidential candidate, you must re-register as a party member.After February 20 you can change your party and receive a new ballot only at the County Clerk-Recorder’s office or at the polls on Election Day.
To vote for a Democratic, Libertarian or American Independent presidential candidate, you can return your ballot andrequest a "crossover" ballot.You can do this before election day with the Elections Office or at the polling place on Election Day. Find the application formhere.

How to Find Your Polling Place Location or Where to Drop Off a Voted Ballot:

Your assigned polling place is printed on the stub portion of your Vote by Mail ballot.
Look up your polling placehereor find a listhere.
Locations and hours for ballot drop boxes are listedhere.
Locations and hours for the SLO and North County Clerk-Recorder's Offices arehere.

HONORING DR. DEBORAH TURNER

The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County joins Leagues across the country in mourning the loss of LWVUS President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner. Dr. Turner passed away unexpectedly Sunday, January 28, 2024.

We will miss her leadership and her passion for justice. She was a fearless advocate for voting rights and women’s rights, As the 20th president of LWVUS, Dr. Turner fought for a more fair and representative union while uplifting racial equity in the League’s mission and work.

Dr. Turner’s passing is an enormous loss, but the national League and all of us at the local level are committed to ensuring that the great work she started continues.LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase said it best, “We are committed to honoring her legacy by continuing to uphold our values to empower voters and build a stronger, more inclusive democracy.”

As Dr. Turner always said, “We will keep on keeping on!”

Read the official statement on LWV.org here.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Celebrate Black History Month: February 1 – 29

To celebrate Black History Month and honor the memory of Dr. Turner we are sharing this article she wrote on black women who were pioneers in American political life. Dr. Turner cites the contributions of Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, and Fannie Lou Hamer. She notes how Kamala Harris has made history as our nation’s first black and Asian-American and first woman Vice President.

Fannie Lou Hamer spoke to the determination of black women, including Dr. Turner, to fight for their rights when she famously said, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired”.

Read the articlehere.

DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATES FORUM REPLAY

Hear directly from the candidates running forDistrict 5 County Supervisor. Watch a replay of the February 5 Candidates Forum. This forum was sponsored by the AAUW Atascadero and the NAACP SLO County, with support from LWV SLOCO.

Watch the Forum Here

UPCOMING LEAGUE EVENTS

~~~~~ You're Invited! ~~~~~

Join fellow League members for one of our upcoming events. Enjoy an evening at SLO REP celebrating the Constitution, learn more about the League at our New Member Orientation, or chat with us while sipping your beverage of choice at a Cocktail Hour, which is open to members and non-members alike. Details and registration information for each event are below. We hope to see you soon!

New to the League or just want to learn more about us? Our New Member Orientationon Zoom is the perfect venue to meet other League members and committee heads, find out what the League is doing, and ask questions about your areas of interest.

Tuesday, February 20 at 2 pm

Virtual Cocktail Hour

Wednesday, February 28 at 5 pm

Additional dates: March 27 & April 24

Both League members and non-members are invited to join us for a casual hour of cocktails and conversation on Zoom. This is a great way to meet other League members, express your thoughts, and ask questions.RSVP or just drop in using the link on the event page here.

Join the League for a previewperformance of

What the Constitution Means to Me

Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m.

Social hour at 6 pm, play starts at 7 pm

Exclusively for League members and a guest!

Buy Tickets Here

VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT

If you’ve been a League member during the past decade you’ve most likely been helped by or worked with Nancy Welts. Nancy has worn many hats in her years of service to the League. We salute her for her willingness to support the League’s mission with her usual excellence and positive tone. We are delighted to feature Nancy in the Volunteer Spotlight.

Nancy has been an integral part of no fewer than 10 League committees. She has worked on the Communications, Civil Discourse, Nominating, Membership, Government Policy, and Voter Service Committees. In addition she’s worked on Program Planning, the Opening Meeting, the Higher Education Study, and the Speaker’s Bureau.

She served two stints as a board member and attended state and national conventions as a delegate from our League. There she was able to network with other Leagues and lobby state legislators on our behalf.

Hardly slowing down, Nancy is introducing a new activity for the League as part of her work on the Membership Committee. Beginning soon, she will host a monthly online cocktail hour via Zoom. The cocktail hour will bring members together to chat about League news or experiences -- although Nancy is quick to point out that just about any topic is welcome.

Nancy points to collaborating with people, working with other League members, and educating the public as the highlights of her League experience. “The best thing about doing League work is that I am also learning new things all the time”, she added. She cited her recent education on the redistricting process as an example of this by-product of her volunteer work.

Nancy appreciates the opportunities to use her writing skills, become more creative with PowerPoint, and work with others towards a common goal on behalf of the League. While with the organization she feels fortunate to have learned from a number of mentors who taught her League best practices and helped her develop her leadership skills, provided her with guidance and shared with her their wisdom and League institutional knowledge.

A San Luis Obispo resident since the ‘70s, Nancy and her husband Frank are Cal Poly grads. They can often be found on the road visiting family throughout California. Nancy’s professional life mirrors her volunteer work as she is presently employed by the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office as an Elections Assistant.

Nancy stands out as one of the many selfless and talented volunteers who make the League community leaders in civic engagement.

UPCOMING EVENTS & WEBINARS

Diversity Coalition Women of Color Symposium
Friday, March 1, 8:30 am - 5 pm

Diversity Coalition is kicking off Women's History Month with the first ever Women of Color Symposium in SLO County!

When: March 1, 8:30 am-5 pm
Where: The Monday Club, SLO

This Women of Color Symposium will focus on developing skills, uplifting our local women of color, and most importantly building connections that will advance women of color in our region.

Find more information and buy ticketshere.

Webinar Replay: Speaking Out Against Dehumanizing Rhetoric

Watch the recording for "Speaking Out Against Dehumanizing Rhetoric"here.

Hear from Lindsay Schubiner, Director of Programs at the Western States Center. Lindsay discusses speaking about "Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric", a guide created by the Western States Center.

Lindsay is followed by comments from community members Ahmed Deif from the Mosque of Nasreen, and Rabbi Micah Hyman from Congregation Beth David.

Webinar: How Science Can Strengthen Elections
Wednesday, February 28, 4 - 5 p.m.

The Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to a virtual conversation on the science of elections as a tool for justice and democracy in the United States on Wednesday, February 28, 4 p.m.

Efforts to restrict voting rights and increase voter disenfranchisement through contesting election and court proceedings have markedly increased as the 2024 election cycle swings into high gear. The most substantial way to combat attacks on voter rights is to bolster and support election science through fair representation and increasing voter protections.

Please join us as we work to deploy the power of science and research to amplify the very real consequences of an eroding electoral system. When transparent data backs voter decisions, science-deniers have less leverage to call election results into scrutiny, allowing actual discrepancies that undermine democracy to be investigated on behalf of the American people.

Find more information and register here.

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