California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Sept. 27 making vote-by-mail elections permanent for all registered voters in the state, along with nine other election-related bills.
“Last year we took unprecedented steps to ensure all voters had the opportunity to cast a ballot during the pandemic and today we are making those measures permanent after record-breaking participation in the 2020 presidential election,” he said in a statement.
“As states across our country continue to enact undemocratic voter suppression laws, California is increasing voter access, expanding voting options and bolstering elections integrity and transparency.”
While Newsom and other supporters claim vote-by-mail ballots strengthen election integrity, critics disagree.
Ruth Weiss, (read more about this from EIPCa) director of legislative oversight at watchdog group Election Integrity Project, California (EIPCa), told The Epoch Times that the legislation, Assembly Bill 37, is “reckless” and will only weaken election integrity.[...read more from Epoch Times Article]
Other Election-Related Bills
The other nine bills Newsom signed on Sept. 27 are:
• Senate Bill 35 authored by Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) makes changes to the distance within which electioneering and specified political activities near a voting site are prohibited;
• Assembly Bill 1367 by Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) increases penalties for the egregious personal use of campaign funds to up to two times the amount of the unlawful expenditure;
• SB 686 by Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa) requiring a limited liability company (LLC) that is engaged in campaign activity to provide additional information regarding the members and capital contributors.
• AB 319 by Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) – Political Reform Act of 1974: contributions: foreign governments or principals.
• AB 796 by Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program.
• AB 1495 by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) – Vacancy elections.
• AB 1590 by Committee on Elections – Political Reform Act of 1974.
• SB 503 by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) – Voting: ballots and signature verification.
• SB 594 by Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa) – Elections: redistricting.
Solano County Redistricting 2021
Every ten years the U.S. Census Bureau releases population data that is used to determine if federal, state, local and special districts need to adjust their boundary lines to ensure equal representation by each elected official in each agency. Solano County must evaluate the population data for the County Supervisorial Districts so that they have substantially equal populations and that they comply with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and California State Laws, including the recently chaptered Fair and Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities and Political Subdivisions (FAIR MAPS) Act.
Redistricting webpage: https://redistricting.solanocounty.com/
Communities of Interest
What are communities of interest?
A community of interest, or interest-based community, is a community of people who share a common interest or passion. These people exchange ideas and thoughts about the given passion, but may know (or care) little about each other outside this area. Participation in a community of interest can be compelling, entertaining and create a community where people return frequently and remain for extended periods. In other words, "a community of interest is a gathering of people assembled around a topic of common interest.
Here are a few general examples we can consider:
- Population
- Income
- Education
- Age/students/seniors
- Homeowner vs renter
- Rural vs urban vs suburban
- Farmland/agricultural interests
There are many possibilities, but here are a few specific examples in Solano County of areas that may have their own unique interests:
- Downtown Fairfield (city, urban, younger population)
- City of Benicia (small city with unique interests)
- Green Valley (suburban homeowners)
- Farmers in Solano County’s cities/unincorporated (rural, ag land)
Why is this important?
Your input on communities of interest will serve as supporting data for the Redistricting Committee to compile a report and present to the Solano County Board of Supervisors. This report will ultimately help influence the Board in selecting final mapping boundaries, so we need your input!
How Can I Get Involved?
Solano County is providing various options for community members to get involved in the 2021 redistricting project. You can subscribe to receive news on what is happening, you can provide input by submitting written comments for the Board of Supervisor's consideration as well as submit ideas for drawing boundary lines using our online mapping tool or uploading a copy of your own electronic file or a scanned copy of a paper map.
https://redistricting.solanocounty.com/get-involved/
Community Outreach Meetings
If you would like to attend a community meeting and learn more about the redistricting process, or ask questions in person, please see community meeting schedule below:
https://redistricting.solanocounty.com/community-outreach-meetings/
Maps
For reference, please check out the link below to view current district boundaries. You can also use the RedistrictR mapping tool to map your own communities of interest.
https://redistricting.solanocounty.com/maps/
The More We Know…
