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As part of its annual legislative interview process, the League of Women Voters of Piedmont together with other local Leagues, participated in interviews of California State Senator Nancy Skinner and State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. Legislative interviews are an opportunity for legislators to share their priorities with local Leagues and develop an understanding of League positions and priorities.

This article highlights the first topic covered in those interviews covering the following questions.

Senator Skinner strongly supports targeted outreach to under-represented populations.  Although California does not have the type of limitations other states have, there continues  to be confusion among certain voters about the right to vote. For example, inmates who have not yet been tried and do not have a felony conviction are eligible to vote. Many inmates do not know this. Further, once released, they are eligible to vote if they have already served time for a felony. [Note: 85% of the people in Santa Rita jail are there because they cannot make bail (pre-adjudication).  They “don’t have a felony conviction” but haven’t even been tried.]

Better voter education is essential. Senator Skinner is also leading the charge to put ballot boxes in jails, which is another way to help close the voter participation gap. When it comes to funding, however, California is currently running a deficit. It is tricky to determine whether the legislature could redirect new money for outreach initiatives. The Secretary of State or other  offices could potentially redirect some funds to this area of emphasis.

Asm. Wicks:
Yes, of course. I spent a lot of my career as a practitioner on the political side.  I helped organize Obama’s outreach model and worked in Missouri, Nevada, and California on different accessibility issues.  I was State Director in Missouri for Obama in 2008. There was no early voting there, and everyone had to vote in person.  They ran out of ballots in Black neighborhoods. It was unconscionable.
 
California tries to make it as easy as possible. Voter registration is in place at the DMV, for example, but we should make voter registration even easier. We could make it automatic, allowing voters to opt out on the back end.
 
Funding for specific outreach programs is a great idea. The State should put resources behind it.  As politicians, we need to be engaged with our constituents and give people a reason to vote.

This article will be followed in the coming weeks with the responses to the additional questions posed to our legislators.