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The Voter 10/23/2025

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

The official newsletter of the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County.

Vol 67 | Issue10 | Date: Oct 23, 2025

In this issue:

THE LEAGUE SPEAKS OUT

League of Women Voters v. US Department of Homeland Security Emergency Relief Sought to Protect Upcoming Elections
The League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Virginia, League of Women Voters of Louisiana, and Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), along with five individual plaintiffs, filed a class action lawsuit challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful creation of massive government databases consolidating sensitive and legally protected personal information on millions of people in America to unlawfully open investigations and purge voter rolls. The plaintiffs seek emergency relief.

Read the League statement here.

LWVUS Condemns National Guard Deployment to Portland
The League of Women Voters stands firmly with Portland and strongly condemns this deployment and any use of federal troops in American cities without due cause.

In a statement, the League decried this action for undermining local authority and threatening the very freedoms our democracy is meant to protect. LWVUS and LWV of Oregon called on the Oregon congressional delegation to condemn the weaponization of the federal military and stand up for the people of Portland.

See the full statement here.

LWVUS Opposes Rescission of EPA Endangerment Finding
The League has submitted comments opposing recent moves by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. This finding is the legal underpinning of all regulation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. If it is rescinded, it will be nearly impossible to create enforceable standards or laws regarding GHG emissions. EPA also proposed to remove GHG regulations for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty on-highway vehicles.

See League comments here.

LWVUS Joins Coalition Urging SCOTUS to Uphold Protections Against Big Money in Political Campaigns
Campaign finance reform is a key issue for the League of Women Voters. LWVUS has joined Common Cause and the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) to submit an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court, urging the Justices to uphold party coordinated spending limits in National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) v. FEC.

“What’s at stake in this case is the very integrity of our elections," said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters. “Lifting limits on coordinated party spending would open the door to more corruption that ultimately allows big money to drown out the voices of everyday Americans. In a time when money already plays an outsized role in our politics, removing this safeguard would be yet another step towards total deregulation of campaign finance.”

See the full statement and amicus briefhere.

League Sponsored Bills Signed into Law

To our members and supporters,

Thank you for responding to our Action Alerts. Your action boosted the League’s efforts in support of measures to improve our elections, ensure access to reproductive healthcare, and strengthen the Racial Justice Act. We are grateful for your support.

These League sponsored bills have been signed into California law.

SJR-1 (Wiener) – Rescinding previous applications for a federal constitutional convention. Rescinds all of California’s prior calls for a Constitutional Convention, closing the door on a process that could have put the Constitution at risk, has passed and is on its way to the federal government to be officially tallied.

SB 42 (Umberg) – California Fair Elections Act. This sends the measure to the November 2026 ballot, giving voters the power to decide whether to lift the ban on public financing of campaigns and reduce the influence of money in politics.

AB 260 (Aguiar-Curry) – Sexual and reproductive health care. Protects access to medication abortion, ensuring that patients, providers, and facilities can continue to provide safe, legal, and accessible reproductive healthcare.

AB 1071 (Kaltra) – Criminal procedure; discrimination. Revises and clarifies procedures for pursuing relief for violations of the Racial Justice Act (RJA) and provides judges more discretion in fashioning a remedy to a violation.

Keep up with League advocacy by signing up to received Action Alerts from LWVC and LWVUS.

NOVEMBER 4 SPECIAL ELECTION RESOURCES

Get Ready to Vote in the Nov 4 Special Election!


Register to Vote		Check Your Status		Get Informed

LWV SLOCO Voter Service has distributed copies of the LWV of California Easy Voter Guide (EVG) in English and Spanish to libraries and senior centers throughout SLO County. The EVG provides general information about voting as well as Pros & Cons on Proposition 50, the sole proposition on the November 4 ballot. EVGs were also made available, in Spanish, to the CalFresh Foodbank. The EVG is available in 5 languages and can be accessed and downloaded at https://cavotes.org/easy-voter-guide/.

2025 EVG distribution
Photos are from the San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Templeton libraries.

PROP 50 PROS & CONS

Ed Cabrera 2025 Prop 50 Presentation Photo Learn about Proposition 50

Voter Service Chair Ed Cabrera has been busy giving Prop 50 Pros & Cons presentations throughout SLO County in the leadup to the Nov 4 Special Election. If you missed seeing Ed in person (pictured at right), you can view his Prop 50 Pros & Cons video presentation on our YouTube channel.

Prop 50 Pros and Cons Video

LUNCH WITH THE LEAGUE

Webinar: Understanding Local Law Enforcement & Immigration Issues

Date: Tuesday, October 28 at Noon

Where: Online via Zoom

Registerhere

Immigration is one of the most pressing issues on the minds of Californians. Our expert panel includes top law enforcement leaders in SLO County who direct the policies and actions of the departments responsible for these issues. This webinar will explore these policies and actions in the context of community needs.

This Zoom event is free to the public, but registration is required. Register here.

Have questions? Contact Glenn Silloway, Social Policy Committee Chair, at socialpolicy@lwvslo.org.

STUDENT ELECTION AMBASSADOR SUCCESS STORIES

Empowering the Vote: SLO County Students Lead Election Ambassador Efforts

The next generation of voters is stepping up across San Luis Obispo County, as Student Election Ambassadors and dedicated registration teams work to boost youth civic engagement. These young leaders are championing voter education and registration drives at high schools throughout the region.

Ambassadors Drive Registration Success

Students at Atascadero, Nipomo, and San Luis High Schools have hosted successful voter registration drives, targeting fellow students eligible to vote in the upcoming November 4 election.

At Arroyo Grande High School, students are producing a video on the importance of voting with clear instructions on how to register.

Aesa Vidati at MB 2025

A standout success story comes from Morro Bay High School, where Election Ambassador Asea Vidati delivered a powerful message during High School Voter Education Week. Asea registered more than 55 students. Impressively, when he ran out of paper forms, Asea quickly adapted, guiding students to complete their registration online. In his project report, Asea offered a sincere acknowledgment, stating: “I can’t thank Ms. McAdam (Juliane, his mentor), the League of Women Voters, Ms. VanZee and everyone over at the SLO election office for providing me with this unique and undeniably beneficial opportunity”.

Community Teams Bolster Outreach

Complementing the student-led initiatives, dedicated Youth Voter Registration Teams continue their outreach efforts at the high schools. In September, team members Julie Rodewald, Anne Quinn, Karen Coffey, and Ed Cabrera spent an early morning at Paso Robles High School. Speaking to five senior classes, they registered 14 students eligible for the November 4 election and pre-registered more than 150 students for future elections.

In October, Ed Cabrera and Julie Rodewald visited the Grizzly Youth Academy where they registered or pre-registered 20 new voters. The academy, a secondary school located next to Cuesta College, is a quasi-military residential program for California youth aged 16-18 who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of doing so. Many of the cadets are first or second-generation citizens and come from families with little or no voting history. The academy registers a new group of cadets every semester and our League will be back in the spring and fall of 2026 to register new voters for the primary in June and the general election in November.

High school activities will be on hold until the winter/spring quarter when efforts will ramp up before the June 2026 mid-term election. Look for updates on the activities of these exceptional students and League members throughout the year in the Voter.

Become a part of the teams that visit the Grizzly Academy and other county schools for some of the most rewarding moments you will ever experience as a League volunteer. Email voterservice@lwvslo.org to sign up.

“NO KINGS” PROTESTS DRAW MILLIONS

“No Kings” protests draw millions across the country and here in SLO

Some 7,000,000 people took part in more than 2,700 “No Kings” rallies on October 18. Millions and millions more were there in spirit and participating remotely by watching coverage on television or online.

It was the largest single day of protest in American history.

Together, the American people showed that resistance to the Trump regime’s authoritarianism is growing. We demonstrated our commitment to nonviolence, to patriotism, our anger at the needless harm the Trump Administration is inflicting on the nation, our rejection of his dictatorial ambitions, and — not least — our sense of humor.

At these patriotic rallies Americans spoke out to defend our democracy and the best of our values. “No Kings” takes its place in the long and honorable tradition of American protest. This is what patriotism, what democracy looks like. With “No Kings,” we joined together to feel, and feed, our power as citizens of a free country.

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR

~~~ You're Invited! ~~~

Virtual Coffee Hour

Wednesday, October 29 at 5 pm

Register Here

Bring your favorite morning beverage and join other LWV SLOCO members to get to know each other and discuss topics and issues that are important to you. Everyone is welcome - you don't need to be a League member to attend.

This meeting is held online on Zoom. Register to receive event reminders or just drop in using the link on the registration page. Your meeting host is long-time League member Nancy Welts.Register here.

Can't make it to this get-together? See dates of future coffee and cocktail hourshere.

NOVEMBER IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November is recognized as Native American Heritage Month to honor, reflect, and observe the unique and widely diverse cultures of American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples. This month allows us to spread awareness about tribes and to provide education about the various challenges faced by the Native Americans in the past and today. Throughout this month, there will be educational events and celebrations that serve to support the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash and Salinan Tribes in San Luis Obispo County. Find information on upcoming events using the links below:

Cal Poly Office of Diversity and InclusionCalifornia State Parks

UPCOMING EVENTS

LWV SLOCO provides information on upcoming community events which may be of interest to readers of the Voter. Inclusion on the list does not necessarily indicate LWV SLOCO endorsement of the event, or the opinions and actions of the sponsoring organization.

Women's Issues Survey
SLO Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
Take the surveyhere.

The Gala Pride & Diversity Center (GPDC) is Seeking Board Members
Are you passionate about strengthening and uniting LGBTQ+ communities in SLO County? GPDC welcomes people of all backgrounds, lived experiences, and professional skills who are ready to share their voice and energy to join their Board of Directors.The Board both oversees the organization at a strategic level and rolls up its sleeves to do hands-on work that keeps their programs and events thriving.
Apply here.

Workshop: What Is Happening to Our Country? What Can I Do?
Oct 26 | 2:30 - 5:00 pm
Atascadero Lake Pavilion, Atascadero
This workshop is for people who wish to gain a "big picture" view of the events happening in the U.S. now, learn about non-violent methods of resistance, and move themselves to effective action.
Find more information & registerhere.

Braver Angels SLO Alliance Workshop: Depolarizing Within
Oct 30 | 3:00 - 6:00 pm
In Person | Unitarian Universalists of SLO | 2201 Lawton Ave. SLO
A free workshop to help you become more aware of your “inner polarizer” and learn methods for disagreeing without contempt and ridicule.
Find more information & register here.

SLO Food Bank Turkey Trot
Nov 27 | 8:30 am
Join the annual SLO County Turkey Trot, an uplifting event dedicated to supporting holiday meals and providing nourishment to those experiencing hunger. This Thanksgiving morning, participate in the Turkey Trot to support the right to food for all our neighbors in SLO County.
Find more information & registerhere.

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