Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

The Most Important Meeting of the Year! (hint, it’s on May 30)

Dear LWVVC colleagues: On May 30, we will hold our Annual Meeting. Why is this “the most important meeting of the year”? Unless at least 20% of our membership attend, we will not have the quorum required under our Bylaws. Without a quorum, we cannot approve our proposed budget for the 2026-2027 year, or elect our Board of Directors, officers, and the Nominating Committee. Of course there are many very good reasons why a member cannot attend—but please consider coming if you possibly can—your presence is very much needed.

The Particulars: The meeting will be held on Saturday, May 30, starting at 10:30AM, with tea and coffee available. We will meet at the Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley Street in Camarillo. After the business meeting, a buffet salad lunch and dessert will be served. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR LWVVC MEMBERS. Should you wish to bring a guest, there is a charge of $35.

Tell me more! Besides our business meeting and the wonderful lunch, we are very fortunate to have as our keynote speaker Vanessa Bechtel, the President and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation. Under her leadership over the past decade, VCCF has distributed more than $160 million in grants to advance the welfare of the citizens of Ventura County. Be there on May 30 to hear from Vanessa about “The Power of Community.”

What else should I know? Details of the meeting (known as The Call to Annual Meeting), including the budget and proposed slate of board members and officers, will be emailed to you approximately May 8. Please read The Call before our meeting on May 30. And, as with all LWVVC quarterly meetings, there will be plenty of time to connect with other members. Come to converse with old friends and make some new ones.

I’ll be there! How do I sign up? Please RSVP by May 22 in an email to lwvvc.info@gmail.com. Even though there is no charge for members, you must RSVP to ensure we know you are coming. If you are paying for a guest, you can mail a $35 check to PO Box 6786, Ventura, CA 93006, or you can pay with PayPal or a credit card HERE

See you on May 30.

Yours in League,

Barbara, Cheryl, Kathy, and Lillian

Co-Presidents

FORUMS: >>> TO SEE OUR FORUM SCHEDULE CLICK HERE <<<

Friday, May 1, 2pm - 4pm - May Day - Workers Over Billionaires at the County Government Center, Ventura, CA 93001

Wednesday, May 6, 5:30 pm - League Happy Hour at Aloha Steakhouse, 364 S. California Street, Ventura, CA 93001 - RSVP to Matty Park. 

Thursday, May 14, 11:00 am - LWVVC Board Meeting in person

Saturday, May 16, 6:30 - 10pm - Eleanor Opening Night - Benefit for LWVVC from the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura

Sunday, May 17, 4:00 pm - Housing and Homelessness Meeting on Zoom

Tuesday, May 19, 10 am - 11:30 pm - LWV Climate Interest Group -- Webinar: Effective Climate Action Plans - Register HERE

Wednesday, May 20, 5:30 pm - League Happy Hour on Zoom

RSVP to Kay Armstrong. 

Thursday, May 21, 4:00 pm on Zoom - Social Justice and DEI Meeting

Thursday, May 28, 3:00 pm - Climate Change Committee

Saturday, May 30, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm - Annual Membership Meeting at

Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley St. Camarillo

Wednesday, June 3, 5:30 pm - League Happy Hour at Aloha Steakhouse, 364 S. California Street, Ventura, CA 93001 - RSVP to Pat Butler. 

Friday, June 5, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - LWV Cool Girls Dinner-TO Unit Meeting at Plata Cocina Mexicana, TO - RSVP to Joan Palmieri or Elizabeth Zernik.

Friday, June 20, 10 am - 6 pm - Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration in Oxnard Plaza Park. We plan to table. More to come.

Partner Events That Might Interest You

This is a partner-sponsored event.  LWVVC will not be tabling, but we encourage all our members to participate, and wear their League T-shirts if they have them. 

There is also a May Day event in Oxnard Plaza Park

Don’t miss this chance to attend Opening Night

while raising funds for the

League of Women Voters of Ventura County

Saturday, May 16th at 7:00pm

This production is presented by Rubicon Theatre Company at the Karyn Jackson Theater in Ventura, California, from May 13 to 31, 2026.

Opening night is a benefit for the League of Women Voters with $70 of each ticket ordered with Code: LWV supporting the work of the League.

Would you like to observe elections?

Learn all about it from the Ventura County Election Division HERE

We also have a helpful how-to in this Election Observer Training.

Democracy Updates from the National League

Voting Rights

• League of Women Voters Condemns Supreme Court Ruling Dismantling the Bedrock of the Civil Rights Movement 

Attacks On Mail-In Voting

• LWV, LWVMA, and a coalition of voting rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Executive Order, which threatens to displace states’ mail-in voting laws.

Equal Rights

• The League released a statement on the Department of Justice’s indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, calling it a “declaration of war on the civil rights movement.”
• LWV staff examined the ongoing fight for fair Census representation for Middle Eastern and North African voters.

Voter Registration

• The League and the Civics Center announced a cross-country collaboration to foster voter registration in high schools.
• Civil rights groups, including LWVAK, filed a lawsuit challenging the unconstitutional sharing of Alaska’s unredacted voter registration list with the US Department of Justice.

Call to Action!

Contact Your U.S. Representatives

 Speak up on the issues that matter!

• URGENT: Tell Congress to say no to ICE and CBP funding!
• Thank your Senator if they opposed the SAVE Act!
• Unite and Rise to defend democracy!
• Tell Congress to stop interfering with DC!
• Reject the anti-voter SAVE Act suite of bills!
• Demand that the Census count all people!
• Tell your representative to protect equal voting rights!
• Urge Congress to stand up for our democracy!
• Demand passage of the Equal Rights Amendment!
• Support voting rights expansion!

FROM LWV California

A Message from Jenny Farrell - Executive Director

Dear Friends,

It has been one of those weeks where each day seems to bring a new and deeply troubling development for our democracy. At the national, state, and local levels, we are seeing a steady drumbeat of actions and rhetoric that, taken together, point in the same direction: toward restricting access to the ballot and concentrating power over our elections.

President Trump has issued an Executive Order containing illegal threats to mail-in voting and threatening criminal prosecution of local election officials who don’t fall in line. As part of the newly formed California Democracy Partnership, we quickly condemned it. As we shared in that statement, this Order would undermine secure, widely used election systems, suppress voter participation, and improperly expand federal control over state-run elections. 

Here in California, we are confronting parallel threats. A new voter ID initiative that is likely to qualify for the November 2026 ballot would impose strict new requirements that risk disenfranchising voters and raise serious privacy concerns. And in Riverside County, Sheriff Chad Bianco’s unprecedented seizure of ballots has raised urgent questions about interference in the electoral process. 

Against this backdrop, the League of Women Voters of California is taking action. We recently submitted an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief to the California Supreme Court in Cervantes v. Bianco, standing firmly in defense of the rule of law and the integrity of our election systems. Our message is clear: elections must be administered by trained, nonpartisan professionals - not subject to interference, intimidation, or political agendas. 

What connects all these developments is simple but profound. They are all efforts to make it harder for people to vote, creating fear, confusion, and barriers around a fundamental right that should be freely exercised.

At the League, we refuse to accept that narrowing. We will continue to fight - in the courts, in our communities, and at the ballot box - to ensure that every eligible voter can participate in our democracy safely, securely, and without unnecessary barriers.

Thank you for standing with us in this work. Our democracy depends on it.

Sincerely,

Jenny Farrell

Executive Director

League of Women Voters of California

Stay Involved

You can follow the live progress of bills we follow and position we take this session.

In Progress: Fair Elections Campaign

We're keeping an eye on this bill that the Ventura County League gathered signatures for at tabling events all last year to get on the ballot.

The League of Women Voters of California, California Common Cause, and the California Clean Money Action Fund has launched the campaign for the California Fair Elections Act, appearing on your November 2026 ballot! 

For too long, wealthy special interests have had an outsized influence on our elections. Since 2020, over $1 billion has been spent on state candidate campaigns alone. The California Fair Elections Act (SB 42) will give our communities the power to change that by:

✅ Removing the outdated ban on public campaign financing.

✅ Allowing local communities to decide if they want to amplify small-dollar donors.

✅ Ensuring candidates listen to voters, not just big-money donors.

This isn't just about reform; it's about making sure teachers, nurses, and community leaders can run for office and win. Let’s build a democracy that reflects ALL of California. 

It’s time to put power back in the hands of voters! 

Read the press release here..

There's a lot happening in California - read all about it on the LWVC website.

FROM LWV Ventura County

It's Been a Busy Month

Tabling at at the Earth Day festival in Ventura 4/18/26

Learn with the League about the SAVE Acts

First forum for the primary -Assembly District 42 
in Moorpark on 4/28/26

Turning in 116 voter reg forms from one day at Santa Paula HS! 4/14/26

Earth Day Presentation 
for Chalice

Saturday, May 30, 10:30am -1:30pm - Don't miss our 2026 Annual Meeting at the Camarillo Senior Center, where we will elect our officers and board for the coming year.

Our featured speaker is Vanessa Bechtel

President and CEO of the

Ventura County Community Foundation,

who will speak about "The Power of Community".

Learn with the League presents:

“What You Need to Know About the SAVE Acts and more”



On April 22nd, league members Kathy Morgan and Betsy Patterson presented information on the SAVE Acts, as well as the California Voter ID Constitutional Amendment that will be on the ballot in November.

Missed it and want to learn more about these measures, and what their impacts may be? You can view the session here: Learn with the League - SAVE Act bills

Additional reading material:

New Requirements they will impose on us.

Who Lacks ID in America Today? Study by Center for Democracy & Civic Engagement

Voter ID Fast Facts Who is hurt by Voter ID laws?

California has top-two primaries - what does that mean?

(Info from the CA Secretary of State website)

All candidates for voter-nominated offices are listed together on one ballot, and only the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party preference –move on to the general election. Candidates are not required to receive a majority of the votes, only a plurality, so if one party has many candidates and splits the vote, it is possible for their opposition to win both slots, even if the opposition party receives fewer votes overall.

Caveat: The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act does not apply to candidates running for U.S. President, county central committees, or local offices.

Fundraising opportunity for the League - from the Rubicon Theatre Company



If you love live theater, admire Eleanor Roosevelt, and want to support the League - this opening night benefit for LWV Ventura County is a perfect opportunity to combine all three. Learn More

Get informed & Get involved

Contact Kathy Morgan or Pat Essick

Get informed: Check out the Voter Information Page on our website.

Vote411 - We're preparing to help Ventura County voters be as informed as possible in the upcoming election by contacting candidates to schedule forums, and to invite them to enter their information into VOTE411.org - the League's voter information site.


If you're a candidate and receive an invitation from 'lwv.vote411@thevoterguide.org' please click on the link in the email and fill out our questionnaire. If you know a candidate, encourage them to be part of our forums and VOTE411.org. It's free, and the voters will thank you.

If you would like to help fill Vote411 with information about our local candidates, we're looking for volunteers to help contact all eligible candidates so that the voters can see their positions. Dozens of candidates will be filing in August for the November ballot, and reaching out to them is a big job. If you would like to help, please contact us at lwvvc.info@gmail.com.

We held our first forum on Tuesday, April 28

Assembly District #42

High Street Theater, Moorpark

Two of three candidates were present — Deborah Klein Lopez and Ted Nordblum. Candidate Rocky Rhodes was unavailable. Candidates gave opening and closing statements and answered questions submitted by attendees.

There were approximately 40 attendees.

A recording of this forum will be available on our website soon. 

Our next forum is on Thursday, April 30

Two Races at the Thousand Oaks City Council Chambers (Scherr Forum)

6:30 – 7:20 pm Ventura County Superintendent of Schools (3 candidates)

7:30 – 8:00 pm Ventura County Treasurer/Tax Collector (2 candidates)

Our final forum is on Friday, May 8

Congressional District #26

Pacifica High School, Oxnard

7:00 – 8:00 pm   (9 candidates )

Please attend our forums, or watch the recordings, to learn more about the candidates on the ballot for the June 2nd primary. You can also visit Vote411 to see candidates' answers to questions in their own words.

These are opportunities to get the information you need to make an informed choice when you vote!

We do not hold a forum unless there are at least two candidates, so forums will only occur if two or more candidates agree to participate. This is per League guidelines.

The latest information will be on our website Forums Page as it becomes available.

To learn more about forums, or to volunteer, contact Kathy Morgan or Pat Essick.  It's a great opportunity to learn about the candidates, meet other League members, and contribute to the League mission of educating voters. Join us!.

For any other questions or information, please contact Kathy Morgan or Pat Essick

Reaching the Next Generation of Voters

This Spring, our Voter Registration teams have been welcomed into more classrooms than ever. 
So far, we've engaged 1,274 students — registering 359 new voters, with 281 already registered — and our work is still underway.

Student-led events are gaining momentum. At Oak Park High School, Isabella Xing Gonzalez led a registration drive, and at Rancho Campana High School, ASB advisor and teacher Jared Pimentel coordinated another. These student-led efforts are a work in progress, and we learn from each one.

We are encouraging students to attend League candidate forums across the county and watch gubernatorial debates on YouTube. The students seem to understand the importance of voting, the power of their voices, and how their vote can make a difference in the issues they care about.

Our partnerships continue to grow. We've built new relationships with Fillmore

High School and Santa Paula High School, while deepening our longstanding collaboration with the Oxnard Union High Schools. We're also exploring ways to support and mentor students pursuing the California State Seal of Civic Engagement.

There are many ways to get involved with student voter registration. Our team leaders and volunteers will be there to guide and support you. Come see what we are doing and how you can help.

Next volunteer trainings will be in August and September.

If you are interested in learning more, contact Pam Cwiklo or Betsy Patterson at lwvvc.info@gmail.com with “voter registration” in the Subject line.

Betsy Patterson & Pam Cwiklo

Co-Chairs, LWVVC Voter Registration Committee

Community Outreach Committee (Tabling)

Thank you!

to our many volunteers for your participation at the Ventura Earth Day Festival on April 18 at Plaza Park: 


Kathy Morgan, Barbara Doyle, Doris Simmelink, Joanne Abing, Cheryl Collart, Kay Armstrong, Karen Savitt, Laura Hernandez, Carl Moorehouse, Joanne Abing, Janna Minsk, and Matty Park.  

You all helped inform the public about the coming election and raised awareness of the League.

Our next Community Outreach event will be

the May Day Event sponsored by

Indivisible Ventura and Justice for All

It is on May 1^st from 2:00-4:00pm in Plaza Park, 651 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. 
Because this is a brief event, we will be mingling with the crowd and distributing literature, no table this time. 

On June 20th from 10am-6pm we will be tabling at the Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration in Plaza Park, at 500 S C Street, Oxnard, CA - More to come

Community Outreach Coordinator – Pat Butler – contact via email

There's a lot going on right now, but we are still working to build support for a direct popular vote system. For more information, including watching the presentation, see our website

If you want to participate, or would like us to give a presentation at your organization, please contact Pat Butler

The LWVVC Observer Corps observes county and city meetings of governing boards and councils. 

When we observe, we wear our league shirts and observer buttons. Join us as we let elected officials know we're keeping an eye on our local government.

Please reach out to Betti Mentzer if you are interested in becoming a part of the Observer Corps. You can participate as your time permits, and you will be providing a great service to other League members.

Dates for upcoming County Board of Supervisors meetings: May 12th and 19th

Contact: Kay Armstrong

This year's scholarship amount is $2500 per school.

Candidates for scholarships must have a 3.0 grade point average, financial need, and a demonstrated interest in political science, based on taking qualified classes.

Scholarship awards will be given

• April 30 at Moorpark College
• May 15th at Oxnard College
• May 16th at Ventura College

We look forward to meeting our award recipients at our Annual Meeting May 30th.

And of course, scholarship donations, of any size, are very much appreciated!! 

Housing & Homelessness Committee: Join Our Mission!

We did not meet in April, but we'll be back in May on the 17th (one week later than usual since May 10th is Mother's Day) We meet at 4 PM by video conference.

Our speaker will be Rod Letterman, the government affairs director for the Ventura County Association of Realtors. He will present the work of a special study committee that developed simplified talking points and definitions for people to use when advocating for affordable housing projects. The five-point presentation provides support statements that are clear and hard to debate.

If you would like to join the committee meeting, or receive this information, contact Kay Wilson-Bolton

For more information see our Committee Page

For Questions about Membership

or Local Action Units



Contact: Doris Simmelink

Welcome to our newest members:

• Ventura- Gina Jaeger, Michelle Velderrain

Please remember to use ChapterSpot to join or review your League membership.

RENEWING MEMBERS: Many thanks and gratitude to our members who have renewed their membership, and to those who have made an additional contribution toward the operating expenses of the LWVVC and towards the scholarship fund. Your support is vital to our continued success.

UPDATES

232 MEMBERS TOTAL

LOCAL ACTION UNITS NEWS

These smaller groups are a way to form friendships and plan ways to get involved. From social get-togethers to tackling local issues, this is a chance to bring the league to your immediate community and be more active.

If you are interested in starting a group in your area, or if you have any questions, please reach out. We have ideas, suggestions and materials to get you started.  

Doris Simmelink



Camarillo - For information about meetings and events, contact Catherine (aka Kitty)

Oak Park - Contact Jim Moynihan for information.

Ojai members will receive an email invite. Please RSVP to the email or contact Pat Essick or Judy Murphy for details.

Thousand Oaks will have their next meeting on Friday, June 5, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm at Plata Cocina Mexicana, Thousand Oaks - RSVP to Joan Palmieri or Elizabeth Zernik.

Ventura had 2 meetings in April. These were kick-off meetings to make introductions and get things started. There's a lot going on and it was a great start in identifying the issues that our members are interested in. 

We discussed how unit members can participate in candidate forums, how we might spread the word about the SAVE act(s), and how to message about the CA Voter ID initiative that will amend the CA Constitution and make voting more difficult and confusing.

We will continue to offer two options, on the 2nd Monday, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm and the 2nd Saturday, 3:00 pm-4:30 pm, as a permanent schedule every month starting in June. Dates will be posted on the website calendar and those who have attended or expressed interest will get an email invite with more information.

Let us know if any of these times work for you and we can send you more information regarding venue and topics.  Contact: Doris Simmelink

Oxnard? If you are interested in starting a group or if you have any questions, please reach out.  We have ideas, suggestions and materials to get you started.  

May 20th @ 5:30pm (3rd Wednesday), ON ZOOM

RSVP to Kay Armstrong.

Happy hour events are not just for new members – everyone is welcome, including guests. Join us for an informal conversation about all things LWVVC. Interested in becoming more involved in our mission of "Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy"? Then come, learn about what we're doing, and how you can help.

You don't have to be a League member to join us for happy hour. Come for five minutes, the whole hour or anywhere in between. We hope to see you there! You are welcome to attend either or both Happy Hours. Please register with the host in advance. 

If you would like to start an in-person Meet the Members in your area

please contact us



Participate in LWVUS and LWVC. Sign up for Updates and League Groups -

Open to all League Members

Join by signing in at: Join an Online Discussion Group and work with other leagues, LWV California staff and LWV US staff.

For all relevant news about the County of Ventura: https://www.ventura.org/

• View Board of Supervisor agendas, documents, broadcasts, and videos.

• Connect with County services.  

Why Renew or Join? Your membership supports our critical work in:

1. Voter education and registration
2. Advocacy for important local and state issues
3. Promoting civic engagement in Ventura County

How to Join or Renew? Visit the LWVVC website and select the Join/Renew link to access the membership portal - or just click the green button below.

Questions? Contact our membership team for assistance.

Donate 

Tax deductible donations may be made to:

•      General Fund

•      Scholarship Fund

•      Ann Gist Scholarship Fund  

•      Ann Gist Voter Education Fund

 OR make your check payable to LWVVC and send it to

P.O. Box 6786, Ventura, CA 93006

If you wish to donate in remembrance of someone, please include their name and a few lines about their life. Please specify the fund you want to support.

Thank you  

Raise Awareness of the League

NOW AVAILABLE!! Hats with LWV logo - $25 donation

For shirts or hats, please contact: Karen Savitt

Email: lwvvc.info@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LWVVenturaCounty  

Mailing Address: LWVVC, P.O. Box 6786, Ventura, CA 93006 

Phone Number: (805) 303-1476 

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LWVVenturaCo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwvofventura/

The League of Women Voters of Ventura County is a 501(c)3 organization.

All contributions are tax deductible.  

The League of Women Voters, a grassroots non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates or political parties.