Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. |
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The official newsletter of the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County.
Vol 69 | Issue 9 | Date: September 29, 2026
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In this issue:
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The General Election is Tuesday, November 3, and SLO County voters have a big ballot: 14 statewide propositions and local measures that vary by community, plus federal, state, county, and city races. SLO to the Polls, the League's nonpartisan campaign to get every county voter ready, has key dates, registration help, and a rundown of your ballot on our Voter Information page.
Dates to Know
October 5: Ballots sent out and early voting begins at SLO Elections Office
October 6: Drop boxes open
October 19: Last day to register online or by mail
October 20 to November 3: Same-day (conditional) registration at the County Elections Office in SLO, or at any polling location
October 26 to November 3: Same-day (conditional) registration at Atascadero satellite Elections Office
November 3: Election Day; polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
November 10: Last day for mailed ballots to arrive (they must be postmarked by November 3)
Mail Early. SLO County's nearest postal hub is in Goleta, more than 50 miles away. Mail your ballot 7 to 10 days early, ask for a hand-stamped postmark inside a post office, or use an official drop box.
Do Your Homework
- Look up your personalized ballot at VOTE411
- Read the Easy Voter Guide, a plain-language guide to why, how, and what to vote, available in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese
- Read the League of Women Voters of California Vote with the League Ballot Recommendations
- Attend a candidate forum or watch replays on our YouTube channel
- City of SLO residents: this is the city's first Citywide Single Vote election. You vote for one candidate, and the top two win. Learn more.
| UPCOMING CANDIDATE FORUMS | Lunch with the League
Election Daze: Making Sense of Recent SCOTUS Decisions on Elections and Vote-By-Mail Ballots
The Supreme Court's 2026 term reshaped American democracy in real time. Recent judicial rulings affecting the November election raised as many issues as they settled. Where do we stand with challenges to mail-in ballots and the states' authority to determine how elections are run? Retired federal judge Alex Karlin will break down the Court's most consequential rulings of the year and what they mean for all of us.
Monday, October 19 | 12:00–1:00 pm
On Zoom. Free, but registration is required.
Register
| | | | Civil Discourse at School Boards
School board meetings are where many community conversations get heated. Join the Civil Discourse Committee and the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education for an in-person forum on how school boards work, what makes an effective board member, how the public can take part, and how boards can respond well to public comment.
Monday, October 26 | 6:30–8:00 pm
SLO County Office of Education Board Room, 3350 Education Drive, San Luis Obispo
Free. Registration is recommended so you get reminders.
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Student Vote SLO
Student Vote SLO, the League's new outreach program for Cal Poly and Cuesta College students, is meeting students where they are. Led by Student Voter Outreach Coordinator Kate McHugh, the program has partnered with student government at both campuses, the City of San Luis Obispo, and the County Clerk-Recorder's office.
At Cuesta, Student Vote SLO has registered voters at the Connect @ Cuesta resource fair, National Voter Registration Day, and Constitution Day, with a Study Jam booth coming September 30. Cuesta is promoting our registration booths and holding a raffle for students who register there. The program is also helping Cuesta compete in the Secretary of State's Ballot Bowl, a statewide contest to register as many student voters as possible.
At Cal Poly, the focus is classroom and club presentations on how to register, check your registration, vote in person or by mail, and learn what's on your ballot. The first is scheduled with the Cal Poly Sierra Club, and Student Vote SLO will be part of a campus-wide email in October.
The message is landing online too. Recent Student Vote SLO posts have averaged 965 views each on Instagram, compared with about 40 for a typical post.
Have a contact at Cal Poly or Cuesta who could help? Email studentvoteslo@lwvslo.org.
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A Voter Guide for Every Pocket
SLO to the Polls is putting a free pocket guide to the November 3 election into thousands of hands across San Luis Obispo County. The League has printed more than 10,000 mini voter guides in English and Spanish and is distributing them through partner organizations countywide. Each guide covers what's on your ballot, key dates, how to register, and where to find nonpartisan information.
Pick one up at League events, from our partner organizations, or at the SLO Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. Know a group that could share them? Contact communications@lwvslo.org.
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Postcards to New Voters
League volunteers have been putting pen to paper to welcome new voters. As part of SLO to the Polls, volunteers sent 1,000 handwritten postcards to newly registered voters across SLO County, encouraging them to make a plan and vote on November 3.
Student Vote SLO sent another 500 to newly registered students, for a total of 1,500 new voters reached by mail. | |
Become a Voter Education Ambassador
This November, City of San Luis Obispo voters will elect City Council members through Citywide Single Vote for the first time. Instead of choosing two candidates, voters choose one, and the top two win. To make sure voters understand the change and fill out their ballots correctly, the City is recruiting volunteers to go door to door in key neighborhoods.
This is a nonpartisan role focused only on explaining the new voting method. Volunteers receive training, materials, and support from City staff, and shifts are available through October.
Sign up as a Voter Education Ambassador | Community events are listed for your information. Their inclusion does not imply League endorsement.
| Rally the Vote in Grover Beach
Indivisible SLO County is hosting a peaceful Rally the Vote gathering to encourage South County residents to get out and vote.
Saturday, October 10 | 2:00–3:30 pm
Grand Avenue and Oak Park Boulevard, Grover Beach/Arroyo Grande
Learn more: tinyurl.com/RallyOct2026
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Know Your Ballot
Fourteen statewide propositions are on the November ballot. Join Indivisible North SLO County for a nonpartisan review of the California ballot propositions, presented by Ed Cabrera of the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County.
Friday, October 16 | 6:00–8:30 pm
Via Vega Winery, 2378 Adobe Road, Paso Robles
Seating is limited. RSVP to Lori by October 11 at loribabynurse@gmail.com.
| | | | What's on the Ballot?
Fourteen statewide propositions are on the November ballot. Join Indivisible SLO County for a nonpartisan review of the California ballot propositions, presented by Ed Cabrera.
Saturday, October 17 | 2:00–3:30 pm
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2201 Lawton Avenue, San Luis Obispo
Following the presentation, Indivisible SLO County will hold a Rally the Vote gathering at South and Broad Streets from 3:30–4:30 pm.
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No Kings, Vote Early Rally
Indivisible North SLO County is hosting a No Kings, Vote Early street and car rally in Paso Robles.
Saturday, October 17 | 8:30–11:00 am
Spring Street and Niblick Road, Paso Robles
| | | League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to people 16 years and older, of all gender identities. With over 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations. | |