LWVC Newsletter: October 2026
Bottom photos (left to right): 1) Group photo of LWV Greater Los Angeles members. 2) LWVC Executive Director Jenny Farrell with Charmaine Morales, United Nurses Associations of California Union of Healthcare Professionals President, and Lucky Longoria, Pediatric Nurse and Content Creator, at the No on Prop 39 rally in Los Angeles last week.
Happy Election Season! I hope you are all hanging in there. We knew this election season might be a doozy, and boy, has it delivered.
In recent weeks, we have witnessed deeply troubling efforts by the federal government to intimidate and disenfranchise voters, particularly immigrants and recently naturalized citizens. At best, these are political shenanigans designed to sow confusion and distract from the important work of conducting our elections. At worst, they represent a coordinated attack on free and fair elections and on our democracy itself.
At the League of Women Voters of California, we stand firmly with our election officials, who are working tirelessly to administer safe, secure, and fair elections while upholding the law and carrying out their responsibilities with integrity. We unequivocally condemn threats and intimidation directed at these dedicated public servants, just as we condemn efforts to narrow our electorate and silence the voices of eligible voters.
We will not be distracted or deterred. We have truth, the law, and the strength of our democratic institutions on our side. Now, more than ever, we need to buckle down and keep doing what the League does best: empowering voters and defending democracy.
In recent weeks, I’ve been speaking with reporters nearly every day, working to ensure that the League remains a steady, trusted, and principled voice amid the political noise. Our message is simple: Your vote matters. Your voice matters. And you should feel confident and empowered to make yourself heard. Across California, our staff, volunteers, and local Leagues are working around the clock to make sure voters have the reliable, nonpartisan information they need to cast their ballots with confidence.
I want to share a little story that perfectly captures the spirit of the League. Our Communications & Development Coordinator, Amaris Lebron, recently posted a notice in her apartment complex, in both English and Spanish, introducing herself as someone who works for the League of Women Voters and inviting any of her neighbors who have questions about voting or the election to reach out to her. I absolutely love this. To me, that is the League at its very best: neighbors helping neighbors, building trust, answering questions, and making sure everyone has the tools and confidence they need to participate in our democracy. It doesn’t always take a big campaign or a major event to make a difference. Sometimes it starts with a simple invitation to your neighbors: I’m here to help.
Finally, I want to say a heartfelt thank you. I know so many of you are in overdrive right now, distributing voter guides, answering voters’ questions, reaching out to your communities, and doing the countless other things that make the League such a powerful force for democracy. Your dedication is extraordinary, and it matters.
Whatever challenges the coming days may bring, I know we will meet them the way the League always has: with courage, integrity, determination, and an unwavering belief in the power of the people.
Thank you for everything you do to strengthen your communities and protect our democracy. Now let’s get out the vote!
Jenny Farrell
Executive Director
League of Women Voters of California
TONIGHT! Next Primary Election Reform Webinar
If you haven’t yet attended one of our primary election reform webinars, don’t worry, there’s still time to get involved in our efforts! Our next webinar, co-hosted with Common Cause California, will take place tonight, Wednesday, October 28th at 6:30 pm.
Making Voting Accessible for Every Californian
LWVC Deputy Director Dora Rose joined Eric Harris of Disability Rights California on The Game Plan podcast to discuss voting rights and accessibility ahead of November’s election.
Their conversation explored California’s accessible voting options, the barriers voters with disabilities still face, and how Proposition 39 and proposed federal voting restrictions could make voting more difficult.
They also discussed practical steps voters can take to ensure their voices are heard and their ballots count.
Make a Plan to Vote!
1. Get Registered
Check your registration status at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
You can still register and vote in the election at any voting location up to and through Election Day (known as Same-Day Voter Registration).
2. Get Informed
Before you vote, it helps to know what you will be voting on. It can take a long time to read through everything if you wait until you are ready to vote. Remember, you don’t need to vote on everything. Your vote still counts even if you choose to skip some things on your ballot.
Visit easyvoterguide.org to learn about the 14 state propositions on your ballot.
Go to VOTE411.org to learn about the candidates on your ballot. You can save your choices before you vote.
3. Go Vote!
If you have not returned your ballot yet, we recommend dropping it off at a voting location or secure drop box in your county. You can also vote in person. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you choose to vote in person, it may help to bring the ballot that was mailed to you. For more information about drop boxes or voting centers near you, visit sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place.
Track Your Ballot! Sign up at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov or call 800-345-VOTE (8683) to find out where your ballot is in the process and when it has been accepted.
Proposition 4: Every Vote Counts!
The amount of money spent in our elections is outrageous. Prop 4 would give California communities the option to establish public financing programs for elections, creating new opportunities to reduce candidates’ dependence on wealthy donors. With Election Day approaching, recent polling reportedly shows voters evenly divided, with many still undecided.
Want to help voters learn more?
The Yes on 4 campaign is hosting two-hour volunteer texting shifts every day through November 3, with quick training provided. Volunteers use a campaign texting platform, so their personal phone numbers stay private.
Learn more and sign up for a texting shift!
Final Push to Defeat Prop 39
Election Day is just a week away! We are in the final stretch to get out the vote and defeat Prop 39, a measure intended to make it harder to vote and easier for politicians to decide which voters count. LWVC is an official opponent of the measure.
Here are the ways in which you can help us defeat this anti-voter ballot measure:
- Sign-up for canvasses in your area.
- Join our LWVC phone banks.
- Encourage your communities to vote NO on Prop 39.
Finally, don’t forget that we have recommendations on all statewide propositions, including a full toolkit covering our analyses and explaining our positions.
LWVC Joins the Conversation at the 2026 Unity Summit
On October 7, LWVC Executive Director Jenny Farrell joined community leaders and advocates in Sacramento for the Asian American Unity Coalition’s 2026 Unity Summit, an inspiring gathering focused on advancing political representation and protecting voting rights.
Jenny took the stage alongside Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and West Sacramento City Councilmember Quirina Orozco for a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Maya Miller, political reporter for CalMatters.
Together, the panelists dived into crucial issues affecting our democracy:
- The significant underrepresentation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in elected office.
- Systemic and structural barriers to voting and political participation.
- Concrete opportunities to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and representative government.
LWVC was also thrilled to distribute copies of our nonpartisan Easy Voter Guide in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. By sharing these resources with trusted local organizations serving AAPI communities, we are helping our partners empower the voters they serve with accessible election information.
The Unity Summit was a powerful reminder of the strength in our collective movement. When we partner across communities to expand access and break down barriers, we move closer to an inclusive democracy that truly represents us all.
LWVC in the News
Check out our latest media mentions below or visit LWVC in the News for all of our media coverage.
- The Center Square: 9th Circuit dismisses feds’ latest effort to regulate California elections
- ABC10: League of Women Voters responds to election concerns and political rhetoric (VIDEO) | Watch on YouTube
- Vitamin OC Podcast: Ep 51 (Season 3): League of Women Voters of California Executive Director Jenny Farrell (VIDEO) | Listen on Apple Podcasts
- FOX11: What to know ahead of the election (VIDEO)
ABC10: California officials question DOJ demand to review possible noncitizen (VIDEO) - CalMatters: Should California taxpayers chip in to fund political campaigns? Prop. 4 lets you decide
- The Game Plan: A Disability Rights California Podcast by DRC: I Want Them to Vote | The Game Plan Episode #18
- AirTalk: Mayoral debate recap, Prop 39, Triple Play, rogue AI models, Chuck Lorre on his new book and more
- AirTalk: New Burbank Airport terminal, Prop 4, acne advice, cost of the ‘American Dream’ and more
Lassen County Times: Prop 39: Require Identification When Californians Cast A Ballot - K-News 98.5: SLO County Public Policy & The Law: Jenny Farrell Cal. League of Women Voters on Prop 4
- CalMatters: Why are out-of-state billionaires funding a California voter ID measure?
- Daily Titan (CSU Fullerton): Voter identification mandates up for approval in Proposition 39
- KQED: Prop 39: Require Identification When Californians Cast A Ballot
- KQED: Prop 4: Allows Cities to Create Public Campaign Financing Programs
ABC10: California Supreme Court: Bianco must return 650,000 ballots (VIDEO) - Los Angeles Public Press: Prop 39 wants to make California one of the most restrictive states for voting
- ABC10: Riverside sheriff must return more than 650,000 seized election ballots
- Press Release from Gov. Gavin Newsom: What they are saying: California leaders praise Governor Newsom’s democracy defending action ahead of November elections
Fun Corner
Can you decode this important message from our Executive Director’s letter? Solve the puzzle online or scroll to see the puzzle embedded on this page.
How to Solve:
- Each letter in the puzzle has been substituted with a random number.
- The word spacing, length, and punctuation remain the same.
- Every time a number appears in the puzzle, it represents the exact same letter throughout the entire message (for example, if 21 = B, every 21 in the puzzle is a B).
Tip: Look for short, common words (like and, to, or your) and recurring letter patterns to help break the code! (Scroll down for hints and lower for the answer key.)
Clues / Hints (Optional)
If you get stuck, here are a few starting hints:
- Cipher number 24 represents Y
- Cipher number 9 represents O
- Cipher number 4 represents V
- Cipher number 19 represents E
ANSWER & KEY:
YOUR VOTE MATTERS. YOUR VOICE MATTERS. AND YOU SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT AND EMPOWERED TO MAKE YOURSELF HEARD.
