CVF-News

CVF-News is a free, electronic newsletter featuring news and updates about the California Voter Foundation's projects and activities.

CVF-News Roundup: Planning for California's November Presidential Election

April 24, 2020

Hi Folks,

Big changes are being planned for elections in California and beyond due to the coronavirus pandemic and uncertaintly about whether voting in person can be safely conducted. This issue of CVF-News provides a roundup of news and developments. For a more in-depth perspective, listen to my interview with John Howard and Tim Foster featured in this week's Capitol Weekly podcast.

Like many nonprofits, CVF relies on donations to support our work. On May 7th, CVF will join in the Sacramento region's Big Day of Giving fundraising event and I hope we can count on you to support our work in this important election year. Please visit our BDOG page and pledge a donation today!

-- Kim Alexander, President & Founder, California Voter Foundation

 

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A Look at Super Tuesday California Voting Problems

March 9, 2020

Hi Folks,

This edition of CVF-News provides an overview of the significant problems California voters experienced on Super Tuesday, when voters in Los Angeles County encountered wait times as much as four hours to cast a ballot and voters in other counties also experienced delays due to connectivity issues with the statewide voter registration database. The inability to access the California Secretary of State's web site and its online polling place lookup tools contributed to voter confusion. 

The California Voter Foundation, which has long advanced election security and working to ensure voter confidence, is taking a close look at what went wrong to determine what changes can be made before November and beyond so these problems are not repeated in the future. One hundred percent mail ballot delivery to voters in LA (and beyond, in light of health concerns) is being considered but comes with administrative challenges that must also be assessed. 

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Ten Things to Know about the California Presidential Primary

By Kim Alexander February 29, 2020

1. Of California’s 25.3 million eligible voters, 20.7 million, or 82 percent are registered as of February 18. This is this highest rate of registration heading into a California presidential primary in the past 68 years, according to California’s Secretary of State Alex Padilla. California’s Presidential Primary, which was held in June in 2012 and 2016, is taking place this year on March 3, Super Tuesday, in an effort to give California voters a greater say in deciding who the presidential candidates will be. 

2. For the first time, Californians can register at any voting site and vote on Election Day. Under SB 72, enacted in 2019, Californians can conditionally register and cast a conditional ballot at polling places if they have never been registered. Another law enacted just last month, SB 207, allows Californians who are registered but have moved within their county or wish to update their party preference to complete and sign a short form and cast a regular ballot. These reforms help voters who need to change their party preference so they can vote for the Presidential candidate of their choice, but may result in long lines at some voting sites on Election Day.

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Casting a Vote-by-Mail Ballot? Follow These Tips to Make Sure it’s Counted

CVF News Release - February 20, 2020

Sacramento, CA -- A growing percentage of California voters will cast vote-by-mail ballots in the state’s March 3 Presidential Primary, but not all of those ballots will get counted.

“While casting a vote-by-mail ballot is a popular option, it’s not without its challenges,” said California Voter Foundation (CVF) President Kim Alexander, whose organization works to improve the vote-by-mail process through research and legislative reforms. 

In 2018, one out of every 100 vote-by-mail ballots cast got rejected according to data published by the Secretary of State. Mail ballots are rejected primarily for three reasons - arriving too late, or the voter forgetting to sign their ballot envelope, or the signature not sufficiently matching the voter’s signature on file.

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Vote By Mail tweet

By Alex Cohen Spectrum New1 February 10, 2020

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Helping voters prepare for March, protecting election security and seeking your support

December 27, 2019

Dear Friends,

2019 is drawing to a close, and the 2020 election is rapidly approaching! The California Voter Foundation is already gearing up, helping voters prepare to vote with confidence. And we are helping to shape California's implementation of risk-limiting audits while working with local election officials to reduce vote-by-mail ballot rejection rates. See below for updates on our recent activities.

If you have not done so already, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our programs and help CVF keep working for the voters. To those who have already contributed, a big thank you for your support and an incredible 25 years of CVF!

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Will you support CVF’s work helping voters this Giving Tuesday?

December 3, 2019

Now more than ever, voters need an election process they can trust.

For 25 years, The California Voter Foundation has worked to help voters make informed choices and vote with confidence. 

From innovating the Internet as a tool for nonpartisan voter education, to shedding “digital sunlight” through electronic filing and online disclosure of campaign donations, to securing the vote by requiring paper ballots and post-election audits, CVF operates at the place where democracy and technology intersect, improving the voting process to better serve voters. 

Please visit CVF's Donate Page to learn how you can give to CVF and support our work!

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CVF-News roundup: Oct. 29th CVF anniversary party, 2019 legislative update, Capitol Weekly podcast

October 17, 2019

Hi Folks,

I'm very excited about CVF's upcoming 25th anniversary party on October 29th in Sacramento and hope you can join us! Tickets are $50 and going fast so please reserve your spot today! More details as well as a legislative update and link to Capitol Weekly's recent podcast highlighting CVFs accomplishments are below.

- Kim Alexander, President & Founder
California Voter Foundation

Celebrate CVF's 25 year anniversary on October 29th!

CVF board members, staff, supporters, colleagues and friends will be joining together in Sacramento on Tuesday evening, Oct. 29th at Paesano's Portofino Room in midtown Sacramento to celebrate the organization's 25 year anniversary working to improve the voting process!

Please join us for delicious pizza, snacks and drinks, and to recognize the people who are the heroes behind the California Voter Foundation. The program will include an awards ceremony, photo slideshow and a video presentation highlighting CVF's projects and achievements over the years. Register online via Eventbrite.

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CVF urges Gov. Newsom to help voters by signing SB 523, SB 72 and AB 681 into law

September 26, 2019

In the final days of this year's legislative session, the California Legislature passed three important bills supported by the California Voter Foundation and many other voter advocacy groups.

If signed into law, SB 72, SB 523 and AB 681 will enact important reforms that will improve the voting process and experience for potentially hundreds of thousands of California voters. CVF is urging Gov. Newsom to sign these bills into law to ensure all Californians can exercise their voting rights in 2020 and beyond:

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CVF supports bills to help Californians exercise their voting rights

SB 72, SB 523 and AB 681 will improve process for voters in 2020

August 28, 2019

The California Legislature is winding down the first year of its 2019-20 session and the California Voter Foundation is supporting three important bills that, if enacted, will improve California's voting process in advance of the 2020 Presidential election:

  • Senate Bill 72, by Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) will allow voters to register to vote at all polling places on Election Day starting in 2020.

Under current law, Californians may register on Election Day only at county election or satellite offices, or, if their county has implemented the Voter's Choice Act (VCA) voting model, at vote centers.

SB 72 will ensure voters have equal access to Election Day registration regardless of whether their county has implemented the VCA. Voters who register on Election Day do so "conditionally" and their eligibility is verified before their ballots are counted. If enacted, California will join nine other states and DC in providing Election Day registration at polling places. This bill is currently in Assembly Appropriations. CVF's support letter is online.

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