Hamilton PTA Advocacy Newsletter
Nov. 3 Election Voter Guide
PTA Advocacy Corner
(Last Updated 10/22/20)
Dear Hamilton PTA community,
This is the special Nov. 3, 2020 General Election edition of the Hamilton PTA Advocacy Newsletter.
Please read this information carefully. Hamilton PTA is committed to bringing a powerful collective voice on behalf of all children and youth into the public arena.
This newsletter contains the following contents:
- Nov. 3 Election: Register to Vote - check your status!
- Voting By Mail is the Safe & Easy Option in 2020
- Help Get Out the Vote!
- California State PTA Supports Prop. 15
- California State PTA Supports Prop. 16
- What's on the Rest of my Ballot?
- Election Resources
Let's aim for a 100% voting community for all those eligible to vote, and improve the lives of all our students and families!
In gratitude and hope,
~ Una Lee Jost
“Our mission is to positively impact the lives of all children and families.”— California State PTA
1. Nov. 3 Election: Register to Vote - check your status!
Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 19, 2020 (postmark or online)
Register to Vote - If you are eligible to vote, register to vote or check your status. Click HERE.
- If you turned 18 recently, changed your name, moved, haven’t voted in recent elections, or desire to change your party affiliation, then you need to update your voter registration.
- Teens can pre-register to vote when they are 16 or 17 and many turn 18 in high school.
- By party, California voters currently consist of: 46.3% Democrats, 24% Republicans, 24% No Party Preference, and 5.7% other. If you do not wish to be affiliated with any party, make sure you register as "No Party Preference," not "American Independent Party."
Vote Early. Since early voting starts on Oct. 5, it's best to make sure you're registered and have your status verified as soon as possible:
- To Register to Vote or check status, visit: https://registertovote.ca.gov
- Questions? Use the NonprofitVote.org voter registration tool
2. Voting by Mail is the Safe & Easy Option in 2020
Your health is important and so is your vote. Fortunately, every registered voter in California can vote by mail from the safety of their home in 2020. Instead of going to the polls on Nov. 3, you can vote using the vote-by-mail ballot that will be sent to you automatically in early Oct.
After you have voted, insert your ballot in the envelope provided, making sure you complete all required information and sign on the envelope.
You may return your voted ballot by:
- Sticking it in the mail. Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before the Nov. 3rd election and received by your county elections office no later than 17 days after the Nov. 3rd election. (USPS recommends mailing your ballot at least one week before Nov. 3. Because of all the concern and controversy over using the postal service for mail-in voting, consider using one of the 400 secure ballot drop boxes that will be placed around LA County 30 days before the election (Method #2 below) or early in-person voting (Method #3 below).
- [RECOMMENDED] Ballot Drop Boxes. As a safe alternative to mail, you can drop your ballot into one of your county’s ballot drop boxes no later than close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 3 Election Day. There will be 400 secure voting drop boxes placed around LA County 30 days before the election. Details and locations can be found HERE. Because of recent reports of unofficial ballot boxes popping up, if you return your ballot at a ballot drop box, make sure it is on the list of official ballot drop box locations. it should be clearly marked as official, and bolted into the ground.
- In-person Voting. You are still able to vote in person, up to 11 days early by returning your ballot in person to a voting center or the office of your county elections official no later than close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 3 Election Day. To help alleviate overwhelming the voting centers during a pandemic, take advantage of either mail-in, depositing your ballot in a ballot drop box, or early in-person voting. Check HERE to find voting centers that are open 11 days and 4 days before the Nov. 3rd election.
Authorizing someone to return the ballot on your behalf. Anyone may return your ballot for you, as long as they do not get paid on a per ballot basis. Only choose someone you trust to return your ballot. You must sign the authorization section on the back of the return envelope. Never give your ballot to someone else unless you have completed, signed, and sealed the return envelope. Remember that any individual returning a ballot on behalf of a voter must also provide their name, signature, and relation to the voter on the return envelope. Voters must know who specifically is returning their ballot.
Track Your Ballot. You may track your ballot: when it is mailed to you, received after you send it in, and counted if you register HERE This only tracks your ballot and not how you voted.
Vote Early. Because of the unprecedented number of voters using vote-by-mail ballots this year, counting of ballots may delay election results for days or even weeks from Election Day. To minimize such delays, we encourage everyone to vote early and aim for returning their ballot by Oct. 24. #HamiltonVotes #VoteByMail #VoteEarly2020
Oct. 22, 2020 UPDATE. There has been a report of a Baldwin Park Ballot Box damaged by fire, and officials are investigating it as arson. Says Supervisor Hilda Solis:
"The arson of an official ballot drop box by the Baldwin Park Library in the First District has all the signs of an attempt to disenfranchise voters and call into question the security of our elections," L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement. "Tampering, or attempts to tamper, with our democracy will not be tolerated."
The frequency of ballot pickups at all other boxes in the area is now being increased, and the location of the damaged drop box has been closed. Voters who dropped their ballot at that that location, and want to confirm it was received (or find out how to vote if it wasn't), can call the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at 562-503-2445, or email vbmdropoff@rrcc.lacounty.gov. (https://laist.com/latest/post/20201019/arson-ballot-drop-box-baldwin-park-fire) Remember to Vote Early by Sat. Oct. 24 if you can, and track your ballot to make sure it's received and counted!
3. Help Get Out the Vote!
Did you know 19.35% of eligible Californians (about 4.9 million) remain unregistered to vote?
And did you know many who don’t vote regularly or at all are disproportionately lower income, younger, and new citizens? Per NonprofitVote.org, these types of unlikely voters hold views that differ markedly on issues like the role of government and addressing inequality. The absence of such voters in elections has implications for public policy and many of the issues nonprofits care about.
Here at Hamilton Elementary School, demographics of our student population of 605 students reflect:
-
40% Hispanic, 25% White, 18% Asian Pacific Islander, 10% Black
-
43% from socioeconomically disadvantaged families
-
13% are English language learners
Let’s do what we can to help Get Out the Vote so that election results more closely reflect the demographics and values of our Hamilton community!
YOUR HOMEWORK! Make a list of 20 'Homies and Fam" voters in your social network (family, friends, coworkers, classmates, members of groups you’re a part of) and discuss the upcoming Nov. 3 election with them. Ask them to commit to voting in the Nov. 3 election, and to getting their families and their communities out to vote as well. Let’s build the voting power we need to improve the lives of our students and families!
4. California State PTA Supports Prop. 15
We urge all PTA members to support Proposition 15, the California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act.
This historic effort will generate up to $12 Billion every year for California's schools and community services at a time of unprecedented hardship. As school districts, local governments, and the state face historic budget shortfalls, one thing is clear: Schools & Communities First will be key to California’s recovery and reinvestment.
Background: This initiative will increase funding by up to $12 Billion for K-12 public schools, community colleges and local communities by changing how commercial and industrial property is taxed. Commercial and industrial real estate property worth $3 Million or more will be taxed based on current market value. It protects all homeowners and renters by maintaining tax protections for ALL residential property.
Where Does the Money Go? This money is divided to send 40% to schools and 60% to local communities. Money for K-12 schools will be allocated equitably using the Local Control Funding Formula. Money for local communities can support programs like mental health and health care services, fighting homelessness, libraries and recreation services, after school programs and more.
Prop. 15 Budget Calculator: The calculator at the bottom of this site provides a good estimate of how much funding our school district, city, and county will receive. Prop. 15 is estimated to generate $11 Million every year for Pasadena Unified!
You can support Prop 15 by: Finding an event near you, Volunteer to help pass Prop 15, Write to your local paper, Donate
5. California State PTA supports Prop. 16
California State PTA is proud to support Proposition 16, Opportunity for All Californians, to restore critical equal opportunity policies in state hiring, contracting, and education.
Unfortunately, racism and sexism still deny equitable opportunities in California. Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed — regardless of their gender, what they look like, or where they were born.
This constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2020 ballot asks the voters of California to vote on permitting the use of race, gender, and ethnic diversity as factors (but not decisive factors) in education including college admissions, government hiring, and government contracting. This measure repeals Prop. 209, which banned consideration of these factors in public employment, public education and public contracting.
California State PTA believes in equity in every aspect of life for all children and youth, and effective governance systems and practices that are rooted in social justice to serve the needs of children, youth and families.
PTA was established to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children, youth and families. We must address a legacy of unequal treatment of marginalized groups and promote fairness and advance upward mobility, pay equity, and racial wealth gap reduction.
To read National PTA's newly adopted position statement "Addressing Systemic or Institutional Racism," please click here.
6. What's On the Rest of My Ballot?
Voters Edge California (www.votersedge.org/ca) is a helpful online tool - just input your address, and the website will pull up a page with all the items that will be on your ballot.
Ballotpedia (www.ballotpedia.org) is also a helpful online tool to research the propositions, measures, and candidate choices on your ballot.
Some of the items that will be on your ballot are highlighted below.
Prop 14 - Stell Cell Research
Prop 15 - Taxes on Commercial Property *Supported by CAPTA
Prop 16 - Allow Public Agencies to Consider Diversity *Supported by CAPTA & Pasadena City Council
Prop 17 - Voting Rights for People on Parole
Prop 18 - Allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primaries and special elections
Prop 19 - Property Taxes: Transfers
Prop 20 - Changes to Criminal Penalties And Parole - Makes changes to
policies related to criminal sentencing charges, prison release, and DNA collection
Prop 21 - Rent Control
- Prop 22 - Employment Classification: Independent Contractors
Prop 23 - Kidney Dialysis
Prop 24 - Consumer Privacy
Prop 25 - Pre-Trial Detention
A note on Prop 21: Proposition 21 asks voters whether to allow local governments to enact rent control on certain housing. Here is CA State PTA's position on Fair Housing and PUSD's resolution in support of a proposed 2018 city rent control charter amendment. PUSD's resolution noted that Pasadena is a renter majority city at 56%; that eviction imposes an especially high burden on school-aged children and their families, including an increased absence from school and other educational disruptions that can have long-lasting effects; that it was important to support renting families by creating sustainable housing for Pasadena; and that stable housing for families and their communities leads to stronger positive outcomes for all in PUSD.
Local Measures
Measure J: LA County Budget Allocation for Alternatives to Incarceration Charter Amendment - Requires no less than 10% of the county's general fund be appropriated to community programs & alternatives to incarceration. (Article) *Supported by LA County Board of Supervisors
Measure O: PUSD facilities bond measure - To upgrade schools, improve equitable access to technology, attract/retain quality teachers by repairing deteriorating classrooms, bathrooms, roofs, science labs; removing hazardous materials; providing safe drinking water; acquiring, constructing, repairing sites, facilities, equipment, shall Pasadena Unified School District's measure authorizing $516,300,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying $45/$100,000 assessed value (averaging$28,504,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, be adopted, requiring annual independent audits/citizens' oversight, all funds only for local schools? (Fact sheet) *Supported by PUSD Board & Pasadena City Council.
- Measure P: Pasadena City Services Protection Measure - To maintain the longstanding utility transfer to the general fund, the elimination of of which would result in the annual loss of approximately $18 million that support emergency 911 response, fire, paramedic, public health programs for the community, senior services, homelessness and housing programs, street repairs, and other general services and programs. (Fact sheet) *Supported by Pasadena City Council.
PUSD Board Election (Districts 2, 4, and 6)
PUSD Board Candidate Profiles: www.votersedge.org/ca
PUSD Board Candidate Questionnaires: Pasadena Education Network,"PUSD Board of Education Candidate Information" (Sept. 23, 2020)
- PUSD Board Candidate Forum: (Video) 2020 PUSD Board of Education Candidate Forum (Sept. 22, 2020)[1:50:53] Sponsors: Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters.
PUSD Board Candidate Forum: (Video) 2020 PUSD Board of Education Candidate Forum (Sept. 22, 2020) [2:03:45] Sponsors: PTA Council of PUSD and Pasadena Education Network. Armenian, Spanish & Mandarin translation available.
PUSD Board Candidate Forum: (Video) 2020 PUSD Board of Education Candidate Forum (Oct. 14, 2020)[1:26:05] Sponsors: Pasadenans Empowering Parent Participation in Education Governance.
PUSD Board Candidate Forum: (Video) POP Talk PUSD Candidates Forum District 6. (Oct. 16, 2020) [53:08] Sponsors: Radio Jornalera
- Media coverage: Pasadena Now, "Meet the PUSD Board of Education Candidates Ahead of Tonight’s Online Forum" (Sept. 23, 2020)
- Media coverage: Pasadena Now, "Money Matters Dominate PUSD Candidates Forum" (Sept. 24, 2020)
- Media Coverage: ColoradoBoulevard.net, "Pasadena Unified Board Candidates: Questions and Answers" (Oct. 5, 2020)
- Media Coverage: Pasadena Now, Rivera, E., "Special Ed Takes Center Stage at PUSD Election Forum" (Oct. 15, 2020)
7. Election Resources
- Voters Edge California (VEC) (www.votersedge.org/ca): Find in-depth information about what's on your ballot. Use your address to get a personalized ballot. Get info on candidates, measures, and who supports them. Keep track of your choices and use them to vote. (VEC is a comprehensive, nonpartisan online guide to elections covering federal, state, and local races in the state of California. It is a joint project of MapLight and the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund (LWVCEF).)
- Ballotpedia (www.ballotpedia.org): Ballotpedia is a nonpartisan digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. Its stated goal is to inform people about politics by providing accurate and objective information about politics at all levels of government.
- (Virtual) 2020 Ballot Measures Forum with Mona Field, League of Women Voters Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 (6:00 PM) Mona Field, Co-President of the Los Angeles League of Women Voters, helps us understand the 12 statewide measures, and some local measures, on the November 3, 2020 ballot. Streaming live on: Youtube and Facebook. Mona Field is a notable expert in state and local politics. In addition to her role with the League, she is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Glendale Community College and the author of California Government and Politics Today (15th Edition). This event is being organized through Teens Leading Change at the Eagle Rock Branch Library. For other ballot measures forum with Mona Field, visit her website.
California State PTA
- (Video) Why PTA supports Propositions 15 and 16 (Sept. 17, 2020) [12:32]. Feat. Shereen Walter (CAPTA Director of Legislation) and Carol Kocivar (legislative advocate). Studying how to vote in November? Learn why PTA supports Propositions 15 and 16. Hint: They help families and kids.
Oct. 22, 2020 UPDATE:
Right now, voter opinions on Proposition 15 is neck to neck. There is also misinformation circulating about Prop 15. Here are some great resources offered by the CA State PTA to help you get the word out to your California friends and family in support of Propositions 15 and 16!
- Outreach Circle app: Check out the exciting, easy-to-use online PTA tools and templates to easily share about Prop 15 in your circles!
- Prop 15 Flyer: Share the following great new Prop 15 flyer regarding Los Angeles County local services revenue estimates.
- Prop 15 and Prop 16 Videos: Here are also two videos that can be shared with your friends and family so they can understand the two Propositions:
- Phonebank: Sign up to phonebank in support of Prop 15 and 16 - it's easy! Try signing up for a shift!
- For more information, visit the California State PTA Ballot Measure web page.
Join Our Advocacy Team!
MOMS, DADS, GRANDPARENTS, GUARDIANS!
Make a Difference Where it Counts!
Become a Legislative Advocate for your kids' school. The California PTA (CAPTA) has a very powerful and effective legislative advocacy organization. The goal of CAPTA advocacy is to support and speak on behalf of all children and youth in the schools, to the community, and before governmental agencies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children. If you are interested in joining this effort, Please Contact:
Una Lee Jost, PTA Legislative Advocacy Chair, advocacy@bobcatbuzz.com. Thank you!
Contact
If you have any questions or suggestions of topics for future issues of the Hamilton PTA Advocacy Newsletter, Please Contact:
Una Lee Jost, PTA Legislative Advocacy Chair, advocacy@bobcatbuzz.com.
Thank you for your feedback! We are here to serve you!
- To receive California State PTA Legislative Alerts, click here.
-
To join California State PTA's Mailing List, click here.
- Look Up and Contact Your Officials
Copyright 2020, Alexander Hamilton Elementary PTA, 2089 Rose Villa St., Pasadena, CA 91107.
Hamilton PTA Advocacy Newsletter
Email: advocacy@bobcatbuzz.com
Website: bit.ly/HamiltonPTA