Benicia residents have formed a temporary organization under the umbrella Choose Democracy Benicia, in anticipation of potential trouble on Election Day and after.
Democrats, Republicans and Independents agree that in a democracy, every vote should be counted, and the results should be carefully verified and universally accepted. This will surely not take place ON ELECTION DAY. Warning signs indicate that there is every possibility some will claim the election is over on November 4.
A national organization, Protect the Results has built a quick coalition of voters ready to mobilize if Trump undermines the results of the 2020 presidential election. Choose Democracy Benicia urges you to attend a nearby peaceful rally on November 4.
On October 28, The Valero PAC reported total income and expenditures for the period October 18-25.
According to the report, the PAC received no new income and made no new CASH payments, but took on new UNPAID bills amounting to $8,500 for ROBO calls and Live Calls [p. 3 and p. 8].
Note that the form seems to show much more than $8500 spent. Detailed expenditures show another $30,688 spent during this period for ROBO calls, Live Calls, & Mailers [p. 4], and another $6,500 spent during this period for Professional Services [p. 9]. This would seem to contradict the $8500 claim. To sort this out is beyond my expertise. For details, see the Form_460_Pre_Election_3.pdf.)
TOTAL EXPENDITURES in 2020: $209,399 to buy Benicia’s next Mayor.
INCOME for the period October 18 to October 25
This period
Year to date
Monetary Contributions (International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, forgers & Helpers Local 549)
These are tense times. COVID-19 affects us all, with concerns for health, jobs, and schools. We are anxious as wildfire season expands, threatening lives and homes, making air unbreathable. Long-standing injustices call for redress. And as we approach election day there is more going on than the expectable wrangling among opposing candidates. There is a growing apprehension that not all votes will be counted or that the results of the November 3rd national elections might not be honored.
In this time of uncertainty and discord it is essential that the fundamental basis of our democracy be supported. All Americans—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—must be prepared to protect and defend the valid results of the Presidential election whether their preferred candidate wins or loses.
Karen Schlumpp, Benicia
Benicia resident Karen Schlumpp took part in a “Choose Democracy” webinar that looked at the signs of a potential coup—an illegal seizure of power—right here in the United States
“Democracy is fragile,” she notes, “and we have reason to worry. We’ve heard the election process discredited; we’ve seen the US Postal Service systematically undermined at a time when more and more voters rely on mail-in ballots; white supremacists militias have been encouraged to ‘watch the polls;’ and the President has repeatedly dodged the question of whether he would accept the results of an election if he loses.”
A Choose Democracy group has formed in Benicia to draw together people committed to the principles that in the national election
Every vote must be counted even if it takes days or weeks to get an accurate count from critical states, and
The losing candidate must concede, and Congress, the Electoral College, and state officials must honor the accurate, final vote count.
Deputy Registrar of Voters John Gardner specifies the rules
MAGA masks and Black Lives Matter masks are allowed, but masks with candidate’s names are not allowed.Vallejo Times Herald, By Katy St. Clair, October 29, 2020
California’s laws regarding electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place are pretty explicit: No signs or clothing with the name of a candidate, nor his or her likeness or logo.
So why is MAGA “Make America Great Again” attire acceptable?
Deputy Registrar of Voters John Gardner says MAGA is OK because it denotes a political idea, but “Ridin’ With Biden” is forbidden because it specifically denotes a candidate.
“It can’t have a candidate’s name on it,” he said. “But slogans are OK.”
In other words, “Build Back Better” will fly but not “Ridin’ With Biden.”
California’s Secretary of State came to the decision that slogans such as MAGA or Build Back Better are OK, but not all states agree, such as New York, which forbids MAGA merchandise near the polls.
Gardner pointed out that when Barack Obama was running for president, people were allowed to wear “Yes We Can” or “Change we can believe in” apparel.
And in 2016, “I’m With Her” for the Hillary Clinton campaign was fair game, too. Other political speech such as “Black Lives Matter” is also permitted.
However, you can forget “I Like Ike” because election officials don’t want to plant names in the heads of people who might walk into the polls not knowing who they are going to vote for, he said.
California bans what is known as “electioneering” within 100 feet of a voting booth. According to state law that means voters and others can’t make any “visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot.”
Banned stuff includes, but isn’t limited to, the following:
A display of a candidate’s name, likeness, or logo.
A display of a ballot measure’s number, title, subject or logo.
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