LWVC Newsletter: July 2026
Dear Friends,
I hope you are all enjoying your summer and finding at least a little time to slow down, recharge, and spend time with the people who matter most. Summer has a way of reminding us that while our work is important, so too are the relationships and moments that sustain us for the work ahead.
It has certainly been a busy month! I had the privilege of attending my first League of Women Voters National Convention, and I returned home feeling incredibly energized and inspired. There is something so special about being in a ballroom filled to capacity with people who share a deep commitment to defending democracy and empowering voters. At a time when our democratic institutions continue to face unprecedented challenges, it was a powerful reminder that none of us are doing this work alone.
One of my favorite parts of Convention was the opportunity to spend time with members of our California delegation. As grateful as I am for Zoom and all the ways it allows us to stay connected throughout the year, nothing quite compares to sharing an ice cream cone, a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine together in person. Those informal conversations strengthen relationships, spark new ideas, and remind us why this movement has endured for more than a century.
That experience has made me even more excited that we are beginning to plan an in-person California State Convention for next June! I hope it will provide not only meaningful opportunities for learning and collaboration, but also plenty of time for us to reconnect with one another face-to-face. We have much more to share in the coming months, and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
In the meantime, the work of defending our democracy continues. Last week, President Trump once again repeated false claims about the integrity of our elections without presenting any new concrete evidence to support those assertions. As the League of Women Voters noted in its response, repeating allegations that have been thoroughly investigated and repeatedly debunked serves only to undermine public confidence in our elections and weaken trust in the institutions that protect our freedom to vote. The League has always believed that our strongest response to misinformation is facts, transparency, and participation.
We should all be concerned that these continued attacks on our election system are not occurring in isolation. Rather, they come amid a broader pattern of efforts to sow doubt about election administration, justify additional restrictions on voting, and lay the groundwork for challenging future election results before a single ballot has even been cast. At LWVC, we are responding with every tool available to us – filing amicus briefs to defend California’s election laws, advocating for policies that protect rather than restrict the freedom to vote, educating voters with accurate, fact-based information, and speaking out whenever misinformation threatens confidence in our democratic process.
As we move through the remainder of the summer, I hope each of you can find a little time to rest and recharge – because we are going to need all hands on deck come November! The months ahead will require our energy, our optimism, and our unwavering commitment to democracy.
Thank you, as always, for everything you do. Together, we will continue empowering voters and defending democracy.
With gratitude,
Jenny Farrell
Executive Director
League of Women Voters of California
Enough is Enough: Time to End the Death Penalty
Over the last decade, the U.S. Supreme Court has dismantled the federal Voting Rights Act – first killing federal preclearance, then gutting protections against voter suppression, and this year eliminating what remained of protections against racial vote dilution. Black and Brown communities marched, bled, and died to win the federal VRA in 1965, but now those rights are at risk, so states must step up to protect voters.
Governor Newsom can do something historic and save hundreds of lives by granting universal clemency to the 560 people on California’s death row – the largest death row in the nation and one of the largest in the world.
- Take Action: The work isn’t done until clemency is won. Complete the LWVC action alert to the Governor!
- Watch LWVC Deputy Director Dora Rose’s passionate remarks from the rally.
Critical Voting Rights Legislation Takes Next Step
Our sponsored voting rights legislation moved forward this month as SB 1164 and SB 1360, both authored by Senator Cervantes, passed their Assembly policy committees. Together, these two bills make up the California Voting Rights Act of 2026.
SB 1164 targets vote dilution and voter suppression. It protects against district maps or election systems that weaken the voting power of communities, and it gives Californians a direct path to enforce voting rights in state court.
SB 1360 focuses on language access. It locks federal language assistance requirements into state law, so voters won’t lose in-language ballots if federal coverage lapses, and it extends coverage to communities not currently protected, including Somali and Arabic speakers.
What’s next: Both bills sit in the Assembly fiscal committee until the Legislature returns from summer recess in August.
Safeguarding Our Elections
SB 884 (Umberg) Moves Forward: If passed, this bill will add extra protections against intimidation at polling places and make voting methods more accessible. Read our support letter.
LWVC stood alongside Senator Umberg and California Common Cause to address the need for this important voting rights bill and to call on legislators to pass it. Hear our remarks from the press conference.
Election Protection Panel Conversation
Our Deputy Director, Dora Rose, recently joined CalNonprofits for a crucial panel presentation on “Securing the Right to Vote: Election Protection Strategies.” She discussed the coordinated attacks on voting rights – from federal actions and court decisions to California’s voter ID initiative and local election denialism – and the League’s work to fight back.
“The work is double-sided: fighting the threats, and simultaneously building the infrastructure that invites people back in.” That means defending voters in court, strengthening California law, expanding language access, and supporting trusted community organizations that help every voter participate.
Gearing Up for November General Election
LWVC is hard at work analyzing newly qualified ballot measures. We will publish our full Vote with the League recommendations in early September.
As an official proponent of Propositions 4 and 5 and an official opponent of Proposition 39, we are actively leading campaigns on all three measures:
Ballot Measure
Proposition 4
(CA Fair Elections Act)
Our Position
Our Explanation
Prop 4 will give communities the freedom to adopt public financing programs that help qualified candidates compete without personal wealth or powerful donors. Public financing also opens the playing field to candidates who reflect California’s full diversity. When Latino, Asian American, and Black Californians – nearly two-thirds of our population – see candidates who understand their lives and concerns, they have more reason to engage and vote. Vote YES to build a government that answers to all of us.
Proposition 5
(Recall Reform)
California’s recall election process should remove officials who abuse their power, not give losing political factions a shortcut to overturn an election. Prop 5 closes the loophole that can allow a replacement candidate to take office with only a small fraction of the vote. Vote YES to protect majority rule and return the recall to its intended purpose.
Proposition 39
(Voter ID)
Prop 39 is built on the same election lies Donald Trump has used to undermine trust in our democracy and grab power. It would waste hundreds of millions of dollars imposing new, unnecessary ID requirements, expose voters’ personal information and be a gift to identity thieves, and create new excuses to reject valid ballots over minor mistakes or mismatched records. Vote NO to stop Trump’s election lies from taking away Californians’ voices and votes.
Tip: Bookmark our Ballot Initiatives Page to track our recommendations as they drop!
LWVC Joins Amicus Brief Defending California’s Election System
The LWVC and the LWV of Redding Area recently filed an amicus brief supporting the state’s legal challenge to Shasta County’s Measure B. Proudly represented by the ACLU and the law firm Cooley, the League is stepping up to protect the integrity of our elections.
Approved by Shasta County voters in June, Measure B attempts to ban secure electronic voting equipment and mandate counting ballots by hand. The state’s lawsuit argues this radical shift directly conflicts with California law and disrupts uniform election procedures.
The League stands firmly for evidence-based elections grounded in facts, not misinformation. California’s elections are already highly secure. The state relies on a strict verification process: voting machines are heavily tested and certified and local officials conduct mandatory post-election audits out in the open so that anyone can see that the results are accurate.
Ultimately, every eligible voter deserves to cast a ballot and have it counted without facing unnecessary barriers. As our brief explains, measures like Measure B create heavy burdens for voters and risk making elections more costly, less efficient, and highly prone to human error – all without addressing any actual flaws in our system.
We will keep you posted on the outcome of this important litigation!
League Events Happening Around the State
Did you know that LWVC hosts a calendar of League events happening up and down the state of California? Submit your event here and make sure to check out the calendar regularly to see all the great events happening both in person and virtual that are open to all League-ers.
LWVC in the News
Explore our latest media mentions below, or check out our page, LWVC in the News for complete media coverage.
- CBS 8: Trump defends election security claims in primetime address as critics challenge assertions
- LA Times: Trump seeks prime-time spotlight for election claims, sparking concerns he’ll intervene
- The Sacramento Bee: California Sen. Alex Padilla champions efforts to defeat proposed voter ID laws
- 94.1 KPFA radio: Courts Protect Mail-In Voting; Progressives Sweep Dem Primaries
- The Sacramento Bee: Billionaires and unions clash as ballot withdrawal deadline draws near
- Independent Voter News: Voter ID: The Republicans’ Nonpartisan Issue in California?
- NY Times: Justice Dept. Pushes Limits of Its Power Over State Elections
- ABC10: California Democrats propose election safeguards amid Trump criticism
- The Sacramento Bee: State Sen. Umberg counters Trump fraud claim with election protection initiatives
- UC Berkeley News: Defending democracy is voters’ top priority in California governor’s race, poll finds
- LA Focus News: Gov. Newsom Signs Election Security Bill
Fun Corner
Solve the four mini-clues below to collect specific letters. Then, rearrange those letters to fill in a missing word from Jenny’s opening letter. (Scroll to the very bottom for the answers.)
What’s the Word?
Find the 1st letter of: The last name of the Senator who authored SB 1360 and SB 1164 to protect voting power and expand language access.
[ ] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Find the 1st letter of: The month when the California Legislature returns from summer recess and progress resumes on our sponsored voting rights bills.
[ ] _ _ _ _ _
Find the 4th letter of: The type of penalty the LWVC joined a coalition to oppose on June 30th.
_ _ _ [ ] _
Find the 6th and 11th letters of: What was filed by the LWVC and LWV of Redding Area supporting the legal challenge to Shasta County’s Measure B?
_ _ _ _ _ [ ] _ _ _ _ [ ]
Last Piece: Unscramble and Fill-in
With the letters you have, unscramble them to fill in the missing word from Jenny’s letter.
“The League has always believed that our strongest response to misinformation is ___________, transparency, and participation.”
ANSWER KEY:
What’s the Word?
- CERVANTES (1st Letter: C)
- AUGUST (1st Letter: A)
- DEATH (4th Letter: T)
- AMICUS BRIEF (6th and 11th Letters: F and S)
Last Piece: Unscramble and Fill-in
“The League has always believed that our strongest response to misinformation is FACTS, transparency, and participation.”