With just about 70 days left, are you prepared to vote on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024? The right to vote is one of the most basic promises of our democracy. In California, every eligible registered voter will receive a Vote by Mail ballot. If you desire to register to vote or have moved since you last voted, you can update your information at registertovote.ca.gov. You can also update your political party or name. The last day to register to vote online or by mail for the November 5, 2024, General Election is October 21, 2024.
The Secretary of State has already prepared the Official Voter Information Guide, which is viewable at voterguide.sos.ca.gov. You can review information about the candidates and State propositions when you receive it. This November, voters will decide the fate of ten policy proposals that involve health care, crime, rent control, and taxes. They are currently online, and the HTML version will be available on September 6.
The Alameda County Registrar also provides a Voter Information Guide that includes information on local candidates and measures as well as includes a sample ballot. Mailing of this Guide begins on Thursday, September 26.
Residents in Alameda County, under the California Voter’s Choice Act, have options as to when, how, and where to vote. Our Registrar of Voters gives voters choices on whether to vote at home on their mailed ballot or in person. Mailing of ballots begins Monday, October 7. To vote in person, you can go to any vote center in Alameda County beginning Saturday, October 26 through Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. You can also keep track of your ballot once you return it by mail or in an official drop box. Sign up to track your vote by mail ballot at acvote.ballottrax.net via BallotTrax.
The Registrar of Voters can provide bilingual ballots, and the Voter Information Guide in five languages. Election materials are also available in additional languages. Call 1-800-834 6454 for assistance.
For those with disabilities, or who suddenly find themselves hospitalized, or in need of voting assistance, the program ACVOTE On The Go can be contacted at on*****@ac***.org.
Our LWVFNUC Board and members are making our best efforts to ensure every voice is heard and that nonpartisan information is available. We intend to address excessive misinformation in this pivotal moment in history. We have a team working on our biannual Voter Information Booklet that provides excellent information on our local candidates and measures. When speaking with your local candidates, encourage them to participate in this publication.
Our Voter Service team is scheduling in-person candidate forums for the mayor, council members, and school board members for our three cities. Visit our website at lwvfnuc.org to submit candidate questions and to confirm date, time, and location. At the time of this publication, details for the forum with the Fremont mayor, council members, and school board members are pending. Union City candidates’ forum for the mayor and city council members, and for New Haven Unified School District board members, will be held at the Union City City Council Chambers on September 30 starting at 6pm. In Newark, the forum for the mayor and city council members will be held at the Newark City Council Chambers on October 2 at 6pm. The forum for candidates running for Newark Unified School District board members will be held at the Newark Unified School District Board Room on October 3 at 6pm.
This summer, the American Library Association (ALA) and the League of Women Voters announced a new partnership to educate and empower voters in 2024. The collaboration is part of ALA’s recently-launched “Reader. Voter. Ready” campaign, which aims to equip libraries to engage with voters. Many libraries promote the League’s online voter information tool, VOTE411.org, which provides information on candidates and measures.
Our LWVFNUC Youth Voter Movement will be co-sponsoring an event related to the upcoming Presidential Debate.
So, our final question: Do you have the resources to make an informed decision on November 5th? We are voting for the next President of the United States. We are also voting for our next Senator, our next Mayor, our next Council Member, and so forth! Vote with confidence. Participate as full-time citizens; activate your citizenship to pursue solutions and resolve problems in our electoral and political process. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
