All posts by Roger Straw

Editor, owner, publisher of The Benicia Independent
2020 elections, California elections, California propositions, Keeping Watch on Earth News

The story behind your missing California Voter Information Guide

By Roger Straw, October 1, 2020

In every previous year, prior to the November election, voters have received a mailed hard copy of the California Voter Information Guide.

The Guide is not being mailed this year unless you request one, and most voters have no idea that this is necessary.

An online version is available, but again, most voters are not aware, first that such a thing exists, and second how to find it. (https://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2020/general/pdf/complete-vig.pdf)

Here in Benicia, two vigilant and persistent residents uncovered the story, as follows:

Constance Beutel contacted our elected representatives, as previously reported here on the Benicia Independent, and found that one can access the Voter Guide online from the California Secretary of State, but that it may not have been mailed to voters this year.

This was followed by  phone calls and email correspondence from Colleen Higgins of Benicia.  Quoting Colleen, with permission:

With the mantra VOTE EARLY! we received our ballots on September 28 WITHOUT the usual California Voter Information Guide, including text of proposed laws / pros and cons.  We only received the local Solano County Voter Guide.

After numerous phone calls over two days to offices of the Solano County Registrar of Voters and the California Secretary of State, this is what I know.

First, my tone and concern was not to blame or point fingers but to clarify, plead for and maximize the voter information packet to ensure a ‘well formed citizenry.’  Per Secretary of State, on page 109 of a 112 page ONLINE version of the Voter Guide, voters are informed that the law changed in 2018, such that the text of proposed laws is no longer auto mailed.  The voter must call/text/email a request to the Secretary of State for a mailed copy. [This on page 109 of the un-mailed Guide!]

From page 109 of the 2020 California Voter Guide

Neither Solano County nor the Secretary of State have a highly visible advisory of this big change on their websites.

And one last confusing piece is that Solano received the Secretary of State copy of proposed bills and they will be mailed out separately to Solano voters ‘soon.

So I asked that they consider texting all voters of the change in procedures so that no one, based on income, fires, pandemic be partially disenfranchised from voting the full California ballot.

Seems like there was a disconnect between Secretary of State and Counties.

I sincerely hope this is resolved quickly.

Colleen Higgins, Benicia

Many thanks to Constance and Colleen for digging up the background on this story.

Surely this information was made available somewhere other than in the Voter Guide itself…the Voter Guide which we all expected to receive but didn’t.  Surely, right?  But I follow State and Local political races, and I don’t recall having seen public announcement or other notification.  Like me, the general public must be clueless.

I’m posting the link here (again) so you can now access the California Voter Information Guide, at the Secretary of State, or here on the BenIndy.

2020 elections, California elections, California propositions

Your official California Voter Information Guide – available here

By Roger Straw, October 1, 2020

Yesterday, I posted breaking news about the non-delivery of mailed copies of the California Voter Information Guide.  More about that in another post, but first, and MOST IMPORTANTLY…

The 2020 California Voter Info Guide
IS AVAILABLE online.
Click here to view it in your browser.

You will need the Voter Guide to read up on 12 State Propositions and a proposed State Bond, summary below.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROPOSITIONS – QUICK GUIDE

  • PROP 14 Authorizes Bonds Continuing Stem Cell Research. Initiative Statute. p. 16  (See also below, pp. 78-109 for an incredibly lengthy section on the State Bond.)
  • PROP 15 Increases Funding Sources for Public Schools, Community Colleges, and Local Government Services by Changing Tax Assessment of Commercial and Industrial Property. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. p 22
  • PROP 16 Allows Diversity as a Factor in Public Employment, Education, and Contracting Decisions. Legislative Constitutional Amendment. p. 26
  • PROP 17 Restores Right to Vote After Completion of Prison Term. Legislative Constitutional Amendment. p. 30
  • PROP 18 Amends California Constitution to Permit 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Primary and Special Elections If They Will Turn 18 by the Next General Election and Be Otherwise Eligible to Vote. Legislative Constitutional Amendment. p. 34
  • PROP 19 Changes Certain Property Tax Rules. Legislative Constitutional Amendment. p. 38
  • PROP 20 Restricts Parole for Certain Offenses Currently Considered to Be Non-Violent. Authorizes Felony Sentences for Certain Offenses Currently Treated Only as Misdemeanors. Initiative Statute. p. 44
  • PROP 21 Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property. Initiative Statute. p. 52
  • PROP 22 Exempts App-Based Transportation and Delivery Companies From Providing Employee Benefts to Certain Drivers. Initiative Statute. p. 56
  • PROP 23 Establishes State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics. Requires On-Site Medical Professional. Initiative Statute. p. 60
  • PROP 24 Amends Consumer Privacy Laws. Initiative Statute. p. 66
  • PROP 25 Referendum on Law That Replaced Money Bail With System Based on Public Safety and Flight Risk. p. 72

OVERVIEW OF STATE BOND DEBT p. 78
TEXT OF PROPOSED BOND p. 89

Again, go here to view the Guide on the CA Secretary of State website.  (And in case that doesn’t work, I have also saved a copy you may access here on the BenIndy website – click here.)

PLEASE VOTE!
…AND VOTE EARLY!…

Here’s all you need to know about
how and when to cast your Solano County ballot.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Solano County CA

Spike of COVID deaths in Solano Care facilities continues – 2 more deaths reported today

[For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE.]

Wednesday, September 30: 26 new cases overnight, 3 hospitalizations, 2 deaths.  Since the outbreak began: 6,445 cases, 395 hospitalized, 71 deaths.Compare previous report, Tuesday, Sept 29:Summary

  • Solano County reported 26 new cases today, total of 6,445 cases since the outbreak started.  Over the last 2 weeks, Solano reported 438 new cases, average of over 31 per day.
  • Deaths – RECENT SPIKE: 16 deaths reported in the last 8 days including 2 new deaths reported today, total of 71 Solano deaths.
    Deaths reported Sept 22 – 30:
    – 1 very young person 18-49 years;
    – 2 middle agers 50-64 years;
    – 13 of our elders aged 65+
    For details on yesterday’s report of 4 deaths, 3 of which were in Solano care facilities, see the Daily Republic report: Recent Covid-related deaths at Fairfield, Vallejo care centers climb to 9
  • Active cases – Solano reported 5 more ACTIVE cases today, total of 225.  Note that only 14 of these 225 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks out among us, hopefully quarantined.  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano County has offered no reports on contact tracing.
  • Hospitalizations – the number of currently hospitalized persons fell by 2 today, total of only 14.  The total number hospitalized since the outbreak started increased by 3 today, total of 395. (See age group hospitalization stats below).
  • ICU Beds –The County reported a big reduction in the percentage of ICU beds available, down from 55% to 40%.  (After 8 weeks, still no information about availability of ventilators.)
  • Testing – The County reports today that 1,001 residents were tested overnight, new total of 89,725.  Solano has a long way to go, even as we celebrate achieving 20% of Solano County’s 447,643 residents (2019) have been tested.

Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today that our 7-day average test rate fell a bit today from 4.8% to 4.7%.
For the record, Solano’s test rate crested the week of July 15-22, when it peaked at 9.3%.  The County has hit 7% (or more) three times since, on August 21, September 1 and September 2.  In the 4 weeks since then, our test rate has run as high as 6.5% and as low as 2.7% (on Sept 11), averaging 4.1%.
The County’s line graph for positive test rate looks like a flat line and tells us little or nothing, not worth posting here.
Percent positive test rates are among the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  The much more stable California
7-day test rate remained fell today, from 2.9% to 2.8%.  (Note that Solano County displays past weeks and months in a 7-day test positivity line graph which also shows daily results.  However, the chart does not display an accurate number of cases for the most recent days, as there is a lag time in receiving test results.  The 7-day curve also lags behind current unknown results.) 

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – 6 new cases today, total of 721 cases, representing 11.2% of the 6,445 total cases.  No new hospitalizations among this age group today, a total of 6 hospitalizations since the outbreak began.  Thankfully, no deaths.  In recent weeks it seems too many youth are ignoring public health orders.  Cases among Solano youth rose steadily over the summer, from 5.6% of total cases on June 8 to 11% on August 31 and has remained around 11% since then.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11% may seem low.  The significance is this: 1) youth numbers increased steadily and at a faster rate than the other age groups, and 2) youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact 6 youth have now been hospitalized.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 13 new cases today, total of 3,860 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents 60% of the total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  The County reported no new hospitalizations in this age group today, total of 129 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this young age group today, total of 5 deaths.  Some in this group are surely ignoring public health orders, and many are providing essential services among us.  I expect this group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 4 new cases today, total of 1,226 cases.  This age group represents 19% of the 6,445 total cases.
    No new hospitalizations today, total of 105 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this age group today, a total of 13 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – Today the County reported 3 new cases, total of 637.  3 new hospitalizations, total of 155.  2 new deaths, total of 53 of our elders who died of COVID.  Much of the recent spike in this age group is related to outbreaks at Fairfield and Vallejo care facilities.  (For details on yesterday’s report of 4 deaths, 3 of which were in Solano care facilities, see the Daily Republic report: Recent Covid-related deaths at Fairfield, Vallejo care centers climb to 9.)  This age group’s 637 cases represent 9.9% of the 6,445 total cases.  In this older age group, 24.3% of cases required hospitalization at one time.  This group accounts for 53 of the 71 deaths, or 75%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 3 new cases today, total of 172 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 1 new case today, total of 419 cases.
  • Fairfield added 6 new cases today, total of 2,088 cases.
  • Rio Vista remained steady today, total of 52 cases.
  • Suisun City added 3 new cases today, total of 471 cases.
  • Vacaville added 3 new cases today, total of 1,083 cases.
  • Vallejo added 10 new cases today, total of 2,140 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas remained steady today, total of 20 cases.

Race / Ethnicity

The County report on race / ethnicity includes case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths and Solano population statistics.  This information is discouragingly similar to national reports that indicate significantly worse outcomes among black and brown Americans.  Note that all of this data surely undercounts Latinx Americans, as there is a large group of “Multirace / Others” which likely is composed mostly of Latinex members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 9% of cases, 11% of hospitalizations, and 18% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 11% of cases, but 18% of hospitalizations, and 24% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 30% of cases, 29% of hospitalizations, and 18% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 21% of cases, 27% of hospitalizations and as of today 31% of deaths.  NOTE: A week ago, the percentage of deaths of White Americans began to rise sharply. After hovering at 20-21% for months, White American deaths rose suddenly on Thursday Sept. 24 to 25%.  Then on Monday Sept. 28 to 26%, on Tuesday Sept. 29 to 28% and in today’s report to a high of 31%.  It seems likely this increase corresponds to the recent spike of cases and deaths in Solano care facilities.

More…

The County’s new and improved Coronavirus Dashboard is full of much more information, too extensive to cover here on a daily basis.  The Benicia Independent will continue to summarize daily and highlight a report or two.  Check out the Dashboard at https://doitgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=055f81e9fe154da5860257e3f2489d67.

2020 elections, California elections, California propositions, Rep. Tim Grayson, Sen. Bill Dodd, Solano Supervisor Monica Brown, Vote by Mail

BREAKING: Non-delivery of California Voter Information Guide

“…everyone is very jumpy about this election and not to have information in a timely manner is problematic.”  – Constance Beutel

By Roger Straw, September 30, 2020
Click the image to download the online version of the official Voter Guide.

People are voting already, but many are doing so without the aid of the official California Voter Information Guide that details state races and propositions.  The guide is mailed to voters before every election, and reportedly went out in “early September.”

Constance Beutel alerted me this afternoon.  She had been watching for her Voter Guide, checked around, and found others here in Benicia in the same situation.

Beutel phoned the offices of our County Supervisor Monica Brown, State Senator Dodd, and State Assembly Representative Tim Grayson and found out that some if not all staff there had also not received their Voter Guide!  All said they would look into it.

Stay tuned…

With permission, here is Beutel’s letter to Tim Grayson staffer Jana Modena:

From: CONSTANCE BEUTEL
Sent: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, 01:56:16 PM PDT
Subject: No Official Voter Information Guide

I’ve just spoken with Tom Bartee letting him know that I have not received the official California Voter Information Guide. I am not the only one in Benicia in this situation. I do have my official ballot.

I called my County Supervisor’s office and learned that the Sec of State sends this guide out so I then called the Sec of State’s office and waited about 20 minutes to speak to the elections division. I was then told that the guides were mailed in early September and a guide would be mailed to me within the next 5 to 10 days. I asked if this would also apply to all of Benicia. The woman who was answering the phone said, “no.”

Mr. Bartee indicated that he had not received his guide either.

As we all know, everyone is very jumpy about this election and not to have information in a timely manner is problematic!

Please let the Assemblyman know of this problem and expedite a solution.

I await your reply.

thank you

Constance