Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. | |
The VOTER Newsletter
November 2026
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Lunch & Learn
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
at the Unitarian Universalist Church
490 Aguajito Road, Carmel CA 93923
Topic: The "Monster" El Niño and What It Could Mean for Us Here on the Monterey Peninsula
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On September 21, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom posted the following: “I'm declaring a state of emergency to mobilize state resources for a potentially historic El Niño winter in California. With higher risks of heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides over the next several months, we're launching a whole-of-government effort to protect Californians.”
What exactly is an El Nino, what is it about the present one that makes it potentially historic, and what does all of this mean for us here on the Monterey Peninsula? Join us at the November Lunch & Learn to hear guest speaker, Dr. Warren Blier, answer these questions and more.
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Lunch & Learn Payments Just Got Easier
We’re making it easier than ever to pay for your lunch at Lunch & Learn events! You can now pay using credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or ACH transfers. The cost for lunch is $26.50 when paying by any of these methods. Don't worry about having the cash; bring your favorite payment method. Your credit card, app, or bank will have a receipt of the transaction.
Donations are also welcome and can be made with your payment of choice. Thank you for supporting our L&L events and helping make these educational gatherings possible!
-- Debby Majors-Degnan
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President's Message
We are approaching a time of year when thoughts turn to gratitude.
As a result of his experience during two world wars, my father instilled in me authentic gratitude for having been born in a democracy. Without understanding the details, as a child, I got the gist. When I was no longer under the full protection of my family (which Dad clearly stated was NOT a democracy), living in a democracy would give me a voice, even though it might not always be heard. Democracy would provide a system of rules intended to deliver justice, even though they sometimes did not. Democracy would allow for society to function better over time for everyone, even though the direction and pace of change would not always be for the better. Dad believed that democracy is the best self-correcting system we know to make the world just and secure. I do, too.
Our democracy is under threat today from interests who believe that an oligarchy or fascist state would be a superior system. I am deeply grateful to be part of the League of Women Voters, an organization that effectively uses democratic processes to protect our rights and democracy itself. See the article below titled “Legislative Successes!” for more details. I am also deeply grateful for all of you who put aside your frustrations and discouragement to do the work that makes a difference.
Happy Thanksgiving!
– Tama Olver, Co-President
League of Women Voters of Monterey County
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November 3 Election is Days Away!
On October 17, the Defending Democracy and Voter Services Committees each had representatives at NO KINGS events that focused on early voting.
By the time this issue is published, the election will be only 9 days away. Most of you will have voted by now. At the same time, you may know people who leave their decisions until closer to Election Day. Here are some resources you can make available to people who often turn to LWV members for advice and information:
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Ballot drop off locations in Monterey County (otherwise known as “drop boxes”) can be found here,
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Information about your registration & polling place can be found here,
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Information about tracking your ballot can be found here.
-- Tama Olver, Defending Democracy Committee
| | Carol Kaplan and Beverly Kreps at the Voter Registration table at 'No Kings - Vote Early'. | | |
Tama Olver and Sandy Hoag at the
League's Defending Democracy table
at 'No Kings - Vote Early'.
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Pros and Cons - What do all those Propositions mean?
If you missed our League's 2026 Ballot Measure Pros & Cons presentation, you can catch up on what the propositions mean, who is financing them and more by watching the video here.
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Voter Services News
It’s been a busy Election Season! Our Voter Service work is done for this election season except for the Team Up for Democracy poll works, so here are some numbers for you:
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Candidate forums: 6, with total attendance estimated at 530. More viewed the video recordings on YouTube, linked from our website and VOTE411.org.
- Pros & Cons forums: 4, including our own Lunch & Learn program in October.
- Educational “Why Vote?” program in Salinas: approximately 60 attendees
- Voter Engagement through tabling at various venues, including 13 locations for National Voter Registration Day and many more around the county at farmers’ markets, downtown Salinas, Hartnell College, CSUMB, and much much more (see Heather Visscher’s article for more details).
- 740 candidates contacted through email for VOTE411, and many of those also called.
- 1,750 Easy Voter Guides distributed.
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Voter Registration Tablers Intently Still at It!
Anticipating the November 3rd election, the League’s voter registration team has expanded its footprint to include a presence at CSUMB’s Otter Thursdays weekly through October, and we are tabling at additional school settings and multiple street fair and festival events. Tabling continues at four Farmers Markets, four Hartnell College campuses, selected post offices and courthouses.
Gratifyingly, people express their appreciation that the League of Women Voters is out there reminding people and helping them to exercise their right and responsibility to vote. Our more than 50 volunteers have experienced many such encounters over almost 300 hours of volunteer time since mid-August. These individual encounters accumulate to introduce, remind, assist, cajole people into thinking about voting and TO VOTE.
By mid-October, Monterey County League tablers had individual contact with 5,565 people over 61 shifts. While we have turned in just 107 completed registrations, we’ve distributed more than 300 forms and many, many people have used our provided VOTE411.org or Secretary of State QR codes to register on-line.
At every event, we have provided visibility to voting, reminding voters and prospective voters with our hand-painted “Reminder Rocks” and with our presence.
Some gratifying encounters include...
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Legislative Interviews 2027 - Volunteers Needed!
Each year, the League of Women Voters of California asks chapters to interview California assembly members and senators. Information collected in the interviews is used by LWVC to inform their advocacy and lobbying work. Interviews take place early each year and the deadline for final reports is February 28, 2027. If you would like to be included in legislative interviews please contact Tama Olver (tamaolver96@gmail.com).
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Chapter members Marianne Gawain (upper right), Sharon Miller (3rd on 2nd row)
and Diane Rowe (3rd on 3rd row) with Senator Laird during the 2026 legislative interview.
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Our chapter coordinates two of the interviews. We will collaborate with LWV Santa Cruz and LWV San Luis Obispo to conduct an interview with Senator John Laird. We will collaborate with LWV Santa Cruz County and LWV San Jose/Santa Clara to conduct an interview with Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas. We will also participate in an interview with Assemblymember Dawn Addis coordinated by LWV San Luis Obispo County.
Participation generally involves a 1-hour planning meeting and an interview of less than an hour. Volunteers who agree to record the meetings take on additional responsibility for producing notes and the final report.
--Tama Olver
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Government Report - Democracy Is a Participatory Activity!
Here's how YOU can get involved.
Many of us have been putting our time and energy into all the services the League provides during the midterm elections. Once the holidays have rolled through, we can come up for air and observe what those we have elected in Monterey County are actually doing. This can be done in person, via Zoom, or by combing through board minutes and media reports. The information gathered can be shared with the LWV Board or membership as a whole.
Please contact Sharon Miller at smmc442@gmail.com to express what issues or boards we (and that includes YOU) should keep an eye on.
Here is what the Government Committee has observed recently...
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Legislative Successes!
The League of Women Voters of California recently summarized their legislative success of 2025-2026. Governor Newsom signed 43 of the 46 bills supported by the League. As a group, the bills enact law to strengthen rights, especially voting rights in underrepresented communities, and strengthen prohibitions against election interference. Your membership in LWVMC directly supports advocacy work at the state level as well as national and local programs to empower voters and defend democracy in these challenging times.
Learn more here.
-- Tama Olver
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Natural Resources Update
The Natural Resources Committee met in September and addressed the builder’s remedy projects, including the projects at the Carmel Valley Village airfield and the intersection of Highway 68 and Laureles Grade. We also addressed the County's Housing Element, which is going to the Board of Supervisors for final approval before being sent to the State. Once approved, the builder's remedy would no longer apply. Finally, we addressed Proposition 45, which the LWV opposes because it undermines the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
-- Janet Brennan,
Natural Resources Committee
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Defending Democracy Update
Three of the propositions on the November ballot in California relate to elections or voting rights. The Defending Democracy Committee created a “conversation starter” button to help advocates among our members and beyond educate the public about the League’s support for a YES vote on propositions 4 and 5 and a NO Vote on Proposition 39, the “Voter ID” proposition.
We also placed advertising in the Monterey County Weekly in late September and for three weeks in October advocating for a NO vote on Prop 39.
What would Propositions 4, 5 and 39 do?
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Welcome New Members!
Gail Widener
Monterey
Julie Tonus
Salinas
Roselyn Traina
Seaside
Teresa Baggiolini
Carmel
Judy Berglass
Pebble Beach
Jean Chapin
Salinas
Rochelle Hal
Monterey
Nathan James
Seaside
Anthony Amarante
Seaside
New members are always welcome!
Bring a friend to the next in-person general meeting or watch a Zoom presentation online together.
Change of Address? Send updates to DennisRMar3@yahoo.com.
Donate to our General or Scholarship Fund or give a friend a gift membership.
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Member Profile: Taryn Cadena
Months before becoming a member of the League, Taryn Cadena was already volunteering for voter registration activities. Recognizing that the existing volunteer scheduling process was labor-intensive, she transitioned the system to Google Sheets, created guide pamphlets, and trained the team on how to use the new tool.
Taryn’s commitment to service began early. In 2017, three years after graduating from college, she joined the Peace Corps and served in Zambia for three years. She spent the first two years assisting locals with aquaculture projects and her final year as a research assistant for Worldfish. While in Zambia, she also founded a girl's club for approximately 25 local girls aged 11 to 17, focusing on leadership skills, organic gardening, composting, and financial sustainability through the sale of their harvest.
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