Holiday party, healthcare, ranked choice voting and more!

Serving the people of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy

December 2023

The VOTER

Message from the Co-Presidents

We can do more in 2024!

Only one month until we begin 2024, a year that promises to be full of surprises and historical moments. As always during an election year, the League will have a full plate of activities to educate and engage voters while also monitoring legislative proposals that could threaten the democracy we all hold so dear. There will be many opportunities for you to get involved!

Before the end of the year, consider making a tax deductible donation to our local League. We operate as a volunteer organization, but there are costs for materials used at voter events. Online giving through our website is easy and secure, or you can mail a check to LWV of San Jose/Santa Clara, P.O. Box 5374, San Jose CA 95150.

We are also pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has updated our local League's nonpartisan policy in anticipation of the 2024 election season. It reinforces the League's underlying principle that we NEVER endorse or oppose a candidate or political party while describing what League members may do to be politically active as a private citizen separate from the League.

Have a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. We look forward to working with you closely in 2024.

Martha Butzier

Co-President

Martha.Butzier@lwvsjsc.org

Diane McNutt

Co-President

Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org

P.S. The next Board of Directors meeting is Thursday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. on Zoom. All League members are welcome to attend. If you would like information on agenda items or the Zoom link, please contact one of us. Agendas are typically finalized 2-3 days prior to the meeting.

Come to our annual

HOLIDAY PARTY

Monday, Dec. 11

4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

at the Willow Glen home of a League member

If you have not already signed up, we hope you can come to celebrate the holidays with us.

RSVP by Monday, Dec. 4

Meet Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg and County Supervisor Cindy Chavez!

Enjoy “A Taste of Willow Glen” with appetizers catered by several area restaurants. Joseph George Wines is providing wine and you can also taste and purchase gifts of chocolates from A L Chocolate.

Do you want to learn and become more involved? This event is a great opportunity for you to network and meet our League leaders and other members.

We look forward to seeing and talking with you at our Holiday Party. Let’s celebrate!!

Voter's Edge resource changing

to VOTE411

For decades, voters in California have turned to Voter's Edge, an online voter guide, to learn more about the candidates and measures on their ballot. Starting in 2024, Leagues in California will switch to a national similar platform, VOTE411, used by LWV throughout the country. Local Leagues will continue to contact local candidates to encourage them to post information about the qualifications and priorities. Voters will go to the VOTE411.org website, enter their address, and see what's on their personal ballot. The site also includes convenient links for voter registration, voting options, and information on Candidate Forums and Pros & Cons presentations.

If you would like to be part of the new VOTE411 volunteer team for our League, please contact VOTE411 Chair Judy Conner. There will be a training session for new volunteers on Thursday, Dec. 7, 12 noon-1 p.m. Register HERE

There are also two training sessions for returning volunteers (those who previously worked on Voter's Edge):

Monday, Dec. 4, 12 noon-1 p.m. Register HERE
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 10-11 a.m. Register HERE

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Ranked Choice Voting

Two listening sessions about ranked choice voting -- how it works and when it might be used in Santa Clara County -- are scheduled in December by the California Ranked Choice Voting Coalition(CalRCV) in partnership with County Supervisor Otto Lee. An in-person session will be Dec. 6, 6-7 p.m. at Maker Nexus in Sunnyvale while a Zoom presentation is scheduled for Dec. 14, 6-7 p.m.

Proposed Regional Affordable Housing Bond Measure

League of Women Voters Bay Area unanimously adopted the following motion during its November board meeting. "We support in concept the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) housing bond measure with the decision to support, oppose or stay neutral deferred to a later date." Final staff reports will be heard by various MTC/ABAG committees beginning in January. More information is available on the BAHFA web page and the LWVBA website.

If you are interested in helping to analyze BAHFA staff recommendations for conformance with League principles and positions, contact LWVBA Board member Roma Dawson.

The LWV of San Jose/Santa Clara Housing and Homelessness Committee will meet in early January. Planned topics are an update on state certification of Housing Elements for the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara and a status report on the update of the Community Plan to End Homelessness. Contact Roma Dawson if you want to receive notification of committee meetings.

Learn more about the League's statewide efforts

LWV of California issued its annual Democracy Works newsletter for League members and the public describing what actions were taken this year to defend democracy and empower voters. In addition to a review of 2023, the report outlines what is planned for 2024 including anticipated ballot measures.

Presidential Primary Election is March 6

Dec. 13 is the deadline for candidates to file to be on the ballot for the Presidential Primary Election in California on Tuesday, March 6, 2024. Mailing of Vote-By-Mail ballots begins on Monday, Feb. 5. The last day to register to vote for the March 6 election is Monday, Feb. 19. March ballots will include candidates for these elective offices:

U.S. President
U.S. Senator for California
All U.S. Congressional districts
State Senate districts 13 &15
All State Assembly districts
Santa Clara Board of Supervisors districts 2, 3 & 5
San Jose Mayor
Santa Jose City Council even numbered districts (2, 4, 6, 8 & 10)

The League will be holding Candidate Forums for some of these races and information on candidates will be available to voters on VOTE411.org (formerly Voter's Edge). If you would like to be involved in voter education, contact Voter Service Chair Sandy Mory.

The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

QUICK LINKS

League of Women Voters of the U.S.

League of Women Voters of California

League of Women Voters of the Bay Area

League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara

Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters

Join the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara HERE

Donate to the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara HERE