Tag Archives: #VOTE

Voting Rights Funnies – not so funny…

Three bad cartoons and a
Washington Post analysis…

MANCHIN-SINEMA ADMINISTRATION
TAYLOR JONES, POLITICALCARTOONS.COM

SUPPRESSION BUMPS
BY STEVE SACK, THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE, MN

VOTER RIGHTS CRUSHED
BY MONTE WOLVERTON, BATTLE GROUND, WA

Why Democrats spent a year on a failed voting rights push

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democratic senators talk to reporters after a meeting on voting rights bill in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democratic senators talk to reporters after a meeting on voting rights bill in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post)

Steve Young: It is time to make a Choice

Email from Steve Young, October 26, 2020

Dear (Name);

As this campaign draws to a close, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to those who have stood with me and supported me through what has been a very difficult period.

No one likes to be attacked so mercilessly. It bothered me to be accused of “living off the taxpayers” because I have a pension; or to have my $379 monthly stipend and health care benefits described as “taking thousands of dollars a month from the City” in an effort to attack my integrity and character. But, I realize that seeking elected office in a small community means having to put myself out there and expose myself to all forms of public scrutiny, real or imagined.

As challenging as running for office can be, the real work begins when I take office, assuming I win on November 3rd.  In order to accomplish the things that need to be done, there will need to be compromises on the part of the Council. The Mayor’s powers are limited and it will still take three votes for us to effect change or enact solutions. I commit to work with the entire Council regardless of past disagreements or oppositions in order to move our City forward.

Throughout my campaign, I’ve made a variety of pledges to the people of Benicia. I will carry those pledges with me into the Mayor’s office. To recap, I pledge to:

    • Maintain as much transparency as possible.
    • Stay active on social media as a means to stay in touch with my constituents.
    • Respect the outcome of Measure D and honor the people’s vote
    • Refuse to accept corporate or union contributions.

I intend to be a conscientious Mayor for all Benicians; representing seniors, families, youth, longtime residents, and new arrivals. And in spite of their determination to defeat me, I will do my part to repair the discord with Valero and request their leadership meet with me on a monthly basis to improve our understanding and communication.

We have many challenges in front of us: economic recovery from the pandemic for both businesses and residents; improving efficiencies at City Hall; and dealing with our underfunded pensions, roads and utility infrastructure.

None of this will be easy. But all of it is necessary.

I ask for your vote and help, elect me as your next mayor on or before November 3rd.

Stay healthy, Benicia.

Steve Young for Mayor of Benicia
Website SteveYoungforMayor.org
Facebook @SteveYoungforMayor2020
YouTube @SteveYoungforMayor2020
Instagram SteveYoungforMayor

In Benicia and Solano County new voters can REGISTER TO VOTE now or anytime, even at your polling place on Nov. 3

From “City of Benicia This Week” newsletter, October 26, 2020

Latest info from Solano County Registrar of Voters

The Solano County Registrar of Voters (ROV) is reminding residents that Tuesday, October 27 is the last day the ROV can mail ballots to voters for the November 3 General Election. Voters who have not yet received a ballot for this election should contact the ROV by or before Tuesday.

“Starting back on Monday, October 5, we’ve been busy mailing out ballots to the more than 258,000 registered voters here in Solano County,” said Tim Flanagan, Solano County Chief Information Officer and Registrar of Voters. “I want to remind everyone that after next Tuesday, October 27, all ballots must be picked up in-person at the Registrar of Voters Office or at a polling place on Election Day.”

The ROV has extended its office hours on Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. to give voters additional time to register to vote. Voters who are still not registered by Election Day can visit any polling location for same-day registration, giving them the option to participate in the General Election.

The ROV encourages voters to take advantage of NO-CONTACT VOTING OPTIONS by using one of 16 secure ballot boxes located throughout the County. Starting on Thursday, October 29, an additional 10 curbside ballot drop-off locations will open, allowing voters a convenient and safe way to drop off their ballots. For more information, including ballot box and curbside drop-off locations, visit the ROV website at www.SolanoCounty.com/Elections and click the “Ballot Drop-Off Sites” and Curbside Drop-Off Sites links.

Early Voting is available at the Registrar of Voter’s Office, located at the Solano County Administration Center, 675 Texas St, Suite 2600, in Fairfield.

Details on voting options, polling locations and key election dates are all available on the Registrar of Voter’s website, www.SolanoCounty.com/Elections, by email at Elections@SolanoCounty.com and by phone at 707.784.6675.

Solano is mailing your ballot to you on Sept 26 – Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun City, Rio Vista, Dixon

By Roger Straw, Friday, September 25, 2020

When and how to VOTE EARLY!

In an email yesterday evening, Assistant Solano County Registrar of Voters John Gardner confirmed that “ballots are being mailed on Saturday 9/26.”  Gardner added, “All ballots will be delivered to the post office at the same time for delivery.”

In years past, we might then assume that our ballots would arrive in our mailboxes on Monday, September 28.  Given recent national stories about post office slow deliveries, we will have to watch and see.

Three ways to return your ballot early! (…and then there’s November 3)

  • Cast your ballot RIGHT AWAY: Mail it back on the same day you get it, maybe Monday or Tuesday, September 28 or 29.  Return it ANYTIME via US Postal Service (postage paid).
  • If you wait a week, you can drop it off in person beginning Monday, October 5: There are 15 NO CONTACT DROP BOXES (inside office buildings).  Here’s the list on the Solano County website, including City Clerks’ offices in all 7 Solano cities.
  • I hope you don’t wait until October 29, but if you do… There are 10 NO CONTACT CURBSIDE DROP-OFF LOCATIONS.  For 5 days before election day, beginning on Thursday October 29, and continuing on Oct. 30, 31, Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, you can drop off ballots “Curbside.”  (Stay in your car, hand ballot to pollworkers.)  Here’s the list of at least one in each city, on the County website.
  • And there’s 4 options on ELECTION DAY, Tuesday, November 3:
    1. NOT RECOMMENDED: It’s still possible to mail your ballot.  If (and that’s a big IF) the post office postmarks it on Nov. 3, it will be valid and counted.  Please DON’T do this!  I wouldn’t mail my ballot at all, but if you must, I’d say do it at least 2 weeks prior to election day – by October 20.
    2. The office building drop-off locations will still be available.  List of locations.
    3. The curbside drop-off locations will still be available.  List of locations.
    4. And there’s the good old In-Person voting at your local polling place.  Your polling place location will be printed on your ballot.  Note that some polling places may have changed since the last election.  To plan ahead, here is the County’s list of 100 polling placesBetter yet, to look up your location using your home address, go to this page on the County website: solanocounty.com/depts/rov/sample_ballot_polling_place_lookup.asp


Roger Straw, The Benicia Independent

Oh, and on a personal note… I am clearly encouraging everyone to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.  Donald Trump is unfit in so many ways, a disaster already, and a threat to our democracy if returned for another 4 years.  Dems, GOPs and Independents please unite and do the right thing – Trump and Trumpism have got to go in a landslide victory for Biden/Harris!