News

Oregon, California seek to protect election workers from threats

Lawmakers in Oregon and California are calling for tougher legislation to protect election workers in response to a continuing wave of threats and harassment inspired by former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 vote was rigged against him.

In Oregon, legislators are considering a measure that would make it a felony to harass or threaten election workers while they are performing their official duties, state officials said. The measure would also exempt the personal information of election workers, such as home addresses, from certain public records.

CVF is hiring a part-time program manager! Help us grow our team

Hi Folks,

The California Voter Foundation is hiring!

We have a new, part-time Program Manager position and are looking for someone to join our small but mighty team and help CVF work to make our elections more secure, accessible and supported. Please share with your colleagues and friends and help us grow our team! See this job announcement on our web site for more details.

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

President of California Voter Foundation discusses expanding the House

Redistricting is happening all across the country at all levels.

As the shape of representation is changing from coast to coast, researchers at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences are suggesting the number of people Americans send to the U.S. House of Representatives needs to increase. (full story)

New report makes the case for expanding the House to strengthen U.S. democracy

Hi Folks,

I'm excited to share the news that the American Academy of Arts and Sciences has released a new report, "The Case for Enlarging the House of Representatives."

This landmark report advocates for expanding the House of Representatives in order to create more equal representation in Congress and in presidential elections for voters living in more populous states. California's voters' voting power is artificially suppressed due to the cap on the size of the House of Representatives, limiting the total number to 435. This cap was established by federal statute in 1929 and can be amended through federal legislative action; no constitutional amendment is required.

Lifting the cap on the House and making the Electoral College more representative is a reform idea the California Voter Foundation has been exploring for a while now. This past June, I gave a presentation to the Alameda County Bar Association entitled, Reforming the Electoral College by Expanding the House of Representatives as part of its Racial Equity Series. We are looking forward to exploring this reform idea further in 2022. I hope you have a chance to check out the new report and tomorrow's web event launch. Details are below. I will be posting on Twitter about this topic under the hashtag #UncaptheHouse.

Also, there is still time to make a year-end donation to support CVF! Please donate if you can, your support is valued and much appreciated.

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

Protecting and supporting election officials in the news

Hi Folks,

This edition of CVF-News highlights recent attention on the need to protect election officials and support funding for election administration, as well as an upcoming webinar on election disinformation.

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

California Voter Foundation discusses protecting election workers

Excerpt:

The process of American elections has been the gold standard around the world for decades.

America has farmed out its system to help emerging democracies stabilize their trips to the polls.

Last fall the shine on what was the gold standard became tarnished in many eyes worldwide as the results of the presidential election were challenged without evidence of wrongdoing, and those working the elections became targets.

This week, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, formerly the secretary of state, pressed Congress to do more to protect election workers from harassment and threats.

California Voter Foundation Board of Directors Chairwoman Cathy Darling Allen joined Sonseeahray to discuss the harassment election workers face. (Full Story)

California Politics: Who wants to fix recall elections?

In a way, it feels like the recall campaign against Gov. Gavin Newsom isn’t over.

Sure, the election results have been certified and Newsom will serve out the remainder of his term while the replacement candidates settle for a spot in the history books.

But the discussion prompted by the recall — and the demands for reform, sparked by a chorus of complaints about how these special elections work — is only getting started.

Local Election Officials Feel the Heat—And What Legislators Can Do About It

Excerpt:

It’s no surprise that legislators on both sides of the aisle receive hate mail, social media harassment and threats. All elected officials are targets from time to time. It’s not ok, yet it’s hard to stop.

Now, local election officials—the people who administer elections—are targets, too. First, who are these people? Then, what’s up with harassment?

CA Recall Wrap-up: Tracking results, debunking fraud myths, verifying votes

Hi Folks,

The 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election is behind us and while vote counting and election verification continues across the state, the result was a decisive defeat of the recall question early on Election Night and Gavin Newsom remains Governor of California.

California recall vote sparks false claims of fraud

Excerpts:

Allegations of fraud in California's gubernatorial recall election spread online after Democrat Gavin Newsom survived the vote aimed at unseating him. But claims that the state refused to count in-person votes, that some polling stations told 70 percent of voters they had already cast their ballots, or that the result was determined too rapidly, are false.

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