Tag: Voting

Mon. 3/2: “My dog ate my ballot” & other FAQs you can use for voting in CA.

Image by Fran__ from Pixabay

In CA, every single qualified voter is welcome at the polls tomorrow!

Q: So, what is a “qualified voter” anyway?

Q: I think I was registered to vote in my high school gym, but I’m not sure. How do I find out?

For Ventura County, click here or call (805) 654-2781. For the rest of CA, click here.

Q: OK, I’m “qualified” but I didn’t registered, or I did register, but I’ve moved since high school. Is it too late to vote on Tuesday? 

Continue reading “Mon. 3/2: “My dog ate my ballot” & other FAQs you can use for voting in CA.” →

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!” →

Wed 9/11: FAST ACTION!!! Integrity in elections starts at home with AB 201! Call Senator Leyva now!

Action: Call Senator Connie Leyva’s office at (916) 651-4020

In a time when titles of bills are masterpieces of deception, knowing who’s funding any political message is key. Even the lowly text, sneaking a message right into our pockets or purses, should not be exempt. Call your own state senator and also call Senator Leyva’s office and leave this message…

Minimal script: I’m calling as a member of the CA Indivisible Coalition and I want Sen. [___] to put transparency first and vote “YES on AB 201.

Contact:

  1. Senator Connie Leyva’s office at (916) 651-4020
  2. State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (SD-19): SAC (916) 651-4019, SB (805) 965-0862, OX (805)988-1940 email (Not your people?: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.)

Continue reading “Wed 9/11: FAST ACTION!!! Integrity in elections starts at home with AB 201! Call Senator Leyva now!” →

Tues 6/11: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 2: Federal legislation.

(Today’s actions from Americans of Conscience, quote from – Lisa Schur, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.)

See Part 1 here.

Although 25% of the U.S. population is disabled in some way, voter turnout in the disability community lags nearly 6 percentage points behind that of nondisabled people. Challenges include voter ID laws; inaccessible polling places; finding accessible election materials; and properly trained poll workers.

Action #1 – H.R.1/S.949 – “For the People” Act includes disability access improvements.

ANOTHER reason why HR.1 and the senatorial version S.949 are so important… These bills increase voting access for those with disabilities by increasing accessibility requirements at polling places, and giving out grants to help pay for necessary alterations. These bills also make registration materials and notices regarding voter roll purges more accessible and expand access to early voting and same-day voter registration. Extending hours helps not only those with schedules dependant on personal care attendants, but also parents of young children, and those with jobs that conflict with normal polling hours. Combo-scripts and contact info. below

Action #2 – H.R.865/S266 – the Rebuild America’s Schools Act will make many polling places more accessible.

Continue reading “Tues 6/11: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 2: Federal legislation.” →

Wed 6/5: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 1: CA – Thank our legislators!

(Today’s actions from Americans of Conscience, quote from – Lisa Schur, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.)

35.4 million people with disabilities were expected to vote in the 2016 presidential election. That was an increase of 7 percent over 2012 and represented nearly one-sixth of the total U.S. electorate at the time.

Action #1 – Check to see if our state has Automatic Voter Registration.

We do. CA was the 2nd of 15 states to adopt the process that makes voter registration an “opt-out” instead of “opt-in” option when eligible citizens interact with government agencies, like the DMV in CA, that provide this service. “Automatic voter registration” (AVR) makes voting easier for those with disabilities by eliminating the need to submit paper forms that are not accessible to them.

Action #2 – Thank our state legislators for their record on voting accessibility.

Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson voted for the bill that created AVR – AB 1461 in 2015, as well as a lot of of other great voting legislation listed in the “Background” section below. Relatively new Assembly Member Monique Límon (2016) has also consistently supported voter accessibility legislation.

Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] to thank [Senator Jackson/ Assemblymember Límon] for her efforts in bring fairness and access to all of California’s voters. Continue reading “Wed 6/5: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 1: CA – Thank our legislators!” →

Mon – 3/4: Basic Democracy needs an active offense. Take 2 fast actions!

Action #1 – Thank our legislators for their support of H.R. 1 – “For the People Act”.

Indivisible National calls it: “…a big, bold, progressive vision for the future”

Rep. Zoe Lofgren said it “ends the dominance of big money in our politics. It ensures public officials work in the public interest.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calls it a “power grab“.

So you know it’s good!

Minimal script for our reps: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Rep. [___] for cosponsoring  H.R.- 1 -“For the People Act”. Please vote down amendmentsthat would water down the bill, and reject any Republican “Motion to Recommit.“

(Rep-check here. Thank Brownley and Carbajal!) Continue reading “Mon – 3/4: Basic Democracy needs an active offense. Take 2 fast actions!” →

Wed – 11/14: Keep your damn pants on, Mr. President. The election’s not over ’til it’s over. UPDATE – People are now getting arrested!

For a little perspective, votes were still being counted A MONTH after Trump’s election to office in 2016. It was during this time that Hillary Clinton’s popular vote lead grew to 2.8 million nationwide, which rankled Trump so badly that he created, in connection with Kris Kobach and V.P. Pence, the money-wasting, gaslighting Election Integrity Commission to chase down the illegal voters of their darkest dreams. 19 actual fraudulent votes were eventually found by the DOJ. Over the entire country. 

This all aside, we still have work to do. And because we’re Indivisible, we’re uniting with groups all over the country. Donate, phone bank, text bank. Write.

Action #1 – Help Georgia get a GOOD Secretary of State. Really. It’s crazy there.

Update further: State Senator Nikema Williams was strip-searched. For protesting.

Continue reading “Wed – 11/14: Keep your damn pants on, Mr. President. The election’s not over ’til it’s over. UPDATE – People are now getting arrested!” →

Mon – 11/12: Keep your damn pants on, Mr. President. The election’s not over ’til it’s over.

For a little perspective, votes were still being counted A MONTH after Trump’s election to office in 2016. It was during this time that Hillary Clinton’s popular vote lead grew to 2.8 million nationwide, which rankled Trump so badly that he created, in connection with Kris Kobach and V.P. Pence, the money-wasting, gaslighting Election Integrity Commission to chase down the illegal voters of their darkest dreams. 19 actual fraudulent votes were eventually found by the DOJ. Over the entire country. 

This all aside, we still have work to do.

Action #1 – Volunteer to make this Senate seat blue.

Mike Espy is running against Senator Cindy (“If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row”) Hyde-Smith, an appointee who replaced GOP Senator Thad Cochran earlier this year and who has voted with Trump 100% of her short time in the Senate. In 1986, Espy became the first African-American from Mississippi elected to Congress since Reconstruction. In 1993, he became Secretary of Agriculture in the Clinton Administration. Continue reading “Mon – 11/12: Keep your damn pants on, Mr. President. The election’s not over ’til it’s over.” →

Mon – 11/5: Don’t be left behind. Check your Voting Plan today!

Action #1. How do I choose what and who to vote for?

Click here for our VOTING GUIDE. It will show you what organizations like the Sierra Club, labor groups, Democrats, progressive physicians and others believe to be the best choices for our future.

This is not a test and you can leave items blank. Just do your best.

Vote for the future. Yours, and the world your children and grandchildren will inherit.

Action #2 – Check that you’re actually registered.

A lot of people aren’t sure. No problem. If you’re a resident of Ventura County, check here. If you live elsewhere, go here.

If you ARE REGISTERED – YAY! Go on to step #3.
If you aren’t…don’t panic. Your voice is important. Go to step #10

Action #3 – Confirm your polling place.

Continue reading “Mon – 11/5: Don’t be left behind. Check your Voting Plan today!” →

Mon 10/29: Calling for more poll workers!

Action – If you’re not in Indivisible Ventura’s adopt-a-poll crew, volunteer to be a regular poll worker in Thousand Oaks, Simi, Moorpark, Oxnard or Port Hueneme. 

We the People: What we political newbies keep learning is how essential the private citizen is in keeping the lights on in this democratic experiment we call America. One may think that state governments are in completely in charge of elections…organizing, facilitating and sometimes suppressing them, and we just show up to vote. But the person handing you your ballot and helping you feed it into the voting machine is a regular civilian, just like you.

After the polls close, and everybody else is home watching the early returns on television, county parking lots are transformed into a klieg-light bright islands of activity, as regular citizens – two representatives from every polling place in our huge county, pull their cars up, one after another, to return voting equipment and relinquish their sealed bags of ballots.

This, at the end, is what democracy looks like. Something to be very proud of. Something to protect and aid.

In Ventura County, they need more of you to help make our experiment work!

Continue reading “Mon 10/29: Calling for more poll workers!” →