Thurs 1/2: Adventures in Democracy – Adopt-a-poll for the March 3rd Election!

Join us as volunteers at our polling place!

“We the People”: What we now know is how essential the private citizen is in keeping the lights on in this democratic experiment we call America. Although state governments are in charge of elections…organizing, facilitating and sometimes suppressing them, the person handing you your ballot is usually a regular citizen, just like you.

In fact… why NOT you? Our county pioneered the “Adopt-a-Poll” program in 1996, with 23 organizations participating. Today there are more than 64 organizations participating in our county’s elections process. Indivisible Ventura will be running a polling place with three precincts and we need volunteers. Unlike regular poll workers, Adopt-a-poll volunteers don’t get paid. The payment becomes a fundraiser for Indivisible Ventura, which helps underwrite printing and stamps for our postcard/pizza parties and costs for our citizenship fairs. However, there are some great advantages:

An “Adopt-a-Poll” volunteer can sign up for short shifts, instead of the standard 6:00am-9:30pm shift required of a regular poll worker.
Become your social circle’s expert on voting in California. Volunteers participate in one 3-hour training course, offered at different times all over the County. (schedule)
Have a great experience helping people at the polls with our wonderful group of volunteers. Our impromptu potluck buffet is awesome! Registered CA voters, legal permanent residents, and high school students (who meet the student requirements listed below) are all welcome to be poll workers.
Note to past volunteers – the dreaded “Edge” is dead!!!

Here’s how to become a part of an amazing democratic tradition!

Send the following information to indivisibleventura@gmail.com by Wednesday, Jan. 15th:

Continue reading “Thurs 1/2: Adventures in Democracy – Adopt-a-poll for the March 3rd Election!” →

Tues – 8/14: Midterms are almost upon us.

Nonvoters helped to hand Trump the presidency. (wapo), (fortune) Let’s help them take back their power.

We are within 90 days of the midterm elections! Check your status!

That’s an important benchmark, because under current law, states can’t purge you from their roles within 90 days of an election. In CA, click here to:

Check if you are registered to vote.
Check where you are registered to vote.
Check your political party preference.
Check your language preference for election materials.
Check the status of your vote-by-mail or provisional ballot.
Find your polling place.

If anything has changed since the last time you voted – your address, your political party, whatever, re-register to vote here.
You can register for the first time if you’re 18 or going to be 18 on election day. You can PRE-REGISTER if you’re 16 or 17.
Yes, you can register and vote in the 14 days before an election or on Election Day itself in CA, but you would have to appear in person at your local elections office.

If you’re not in CA, go to www.vote.org to find your state’s election center – each state’s election information is listed. After you’ve checked your registration status, do yourself a favor and take a screen shot of it. If things go wonky at your precinct that day, it will be nice to have that information handy.

Take the 24 hour pledge!

(from Small Deeds Done) “Senator Claire McCaskill (who has described herself as “stronger than horseradish”) issued a challenge the other day, and I wanted to share it.

Continue reading “Tues – 8/14: Midterms are almost upon us.” →

Update! – We’re adopting the Poinsettia Pavilion polling place!

Indivisible Ventura has been assigned the voting poll at the Poinsettia Pavilion! Come join us! We’re looking for volunteers to help us staff it for the June 5th primaries!

pavilion

We need at least (4) volunteer “clerks” per shift for (4) shifts. You’re welcome to volunteer for 2 or more shifts. Some of us will be there all day!
Shift Schedule:

6:00 am – 10:00 am (setup at 6, poll opens at 7)
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
2:00 pm -5:30 pm
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm (door closes at 8:00)

We need one Spanish-capable clerk for each shift! Please help us if you have this capability! Continue reading “Update! – We’re adopting the Poinsettia Pavilion polling place!” →

Hey Indivisible Ventura! – Let’s adopt a poll!

Indivisible Ventura is looking for volunteers to help us adopt-a-poll!
We need at least 3-4 volunteer “clerks” per four-hour shift for 4 shifts. First shift starts at the ridiculous time of 6:00 am. Frisky and/or long-suffering volunteers can sign up for more than one shift. Only requirement is that you’re registered to vote in California.

At least one clerk from each shift is encouraged to take the full training course, so they can pass on the knowledge to their crew. Election officer training classes last 3 hours (one hour online or at the county, two hours in a hands-on equipment lab). Classes are offered at a variety of times and places around the county. Those who volunteer as clerks get a $90 stipend along with a $20 stipend for those completing the training.

Not only is this an interesting and extremely educational volunteer opportunity, but it’s also a fundraiser! For each poll adopted, the group receives $475! That’s a lot of paper, ink cartridges and postcard stamps!

Volunteer and/or sign up for more information here! Continue reading “Hey Indivisible Ventura! – Let’s adopt a poll!” →