Fabulous Voter Resources ~ dive in!
- Be inspired by this 2:35 minute video posted by Shannon Watts. (Make sure to click on the volume symbol at the bottom right of the video to hear her)
- VOTE411 ~ This site is easy to use. Compare the arguments. Dive deep: who contributed to this campaign and how much? What organizations are behind this proposition?
- LAist’s Voter Game Plan This the LA NPR station that I listen to–(now that there’s some good news to listen to again.) Their reporters have compiled a terrific website just for YOU. Worth exploring. Take a deep dive, or simply get a quick understanding of a topic or candidate at LAist’s fabulous, well-researched site. It offers separate sections on topics for each proposition and candidate such as, “What does the LA County District Attorney do?”, “What’s at stake?”, “Follow the money”, “In their own words” and more.
- Register to vote in your state HERE ~ a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the candidates and measures on your ballot.
- Register to vote in California here—AND VOTE that day. Hooray for California Secretary of State’s office!
- Indivisible ~ “In America We Don’t Do Kings” ~ From one of the largest days of protest in US history to the daily act of organizing in every congressional district in this country, Indivisibles are standing up against authoritarianism.
- LA County Registrar Recorder County Clerk ~ check out your voting options (military and overseas voters, vote by mail, vote by ballot drop box, vote in-person, check out their interactive sample ballot, and learn about mobile vote centers)
- League of Women Voters Beach Cities ~ this is my LWV. (Fun fact: the League was created in 1920. Read more here)
- If you live in Torrance, you’re lucky to have a WONDERFUL resource by a terrific, experienced reporter. Take a look and then subscribe to Take Back Torrance, ~ you’ll thank me.
- The Civics Center engages high school students who cannot yet vote, to register fellow high school students who aren’t old enough, either. Such a cool way to energize young almost-voters!
- And if you live in El Segundo, check out Sweat Equity Alliance
- California Church IMPACT My very smart sister sent them to me and said: “A former nun…spoke at the synagogue years ago and she and I have shared political love ever since. This is the group she worked with.”
- Opposition: see how the far right votes here. Very useful to see what not to vote for. (“News and Resources from a Christian Worldview” ~ argh)
- CalMatters Voter Guide (also on instagram:@calmatters) CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization…”We are the only journalism outlet dedicated to covering America’s biggest state, 39 million Californians and the world’s fifth largest economy.” I’ve copied lots of material from CalMatters onto this site. (I’ve been using CalMatters for a long time and didn’t realize they survived on donations until 2024, which was the first time I donated to CalMatters. I’ve promised myself I’ll donate to them every election.)
- The California Democratic Party’s VOTER HOTLINE Voting Questions? Call CADEM Voter Hotline: 1-(877) 321-VOTE (8683) It’s currently Open (9am–6pm M-F). The Hotline will resume full hours of operation in October and will run through the General Election on November 5, 2024. The Voter Protection line will be open 7am–8pm on Tuesday November 5th
- The California Democratic Party’s Endorsements
- CAvotes.org ~ the League of Women Voter’s Education Fund’s site. Click on “Go Vote,” and become a wizard in all things election-related. While you’re there, consider making a donation (contributions to the League’s Education Fund are tax deductible.)
- Beach Cities Democrats ~ my local Dem club. They post their endorsements.
- Los Angeles Times endorsements This link may or may not work for you. Please support local journalism!
- Stonewall Democratic Club According to Wikipedia: The Stonewall Democratic Club was established in 1975 in Los Angeles, the first ‘Stonewall Democratic Club’ in the country established for LGBT individuals and straight allies committed to achieving equality for all and to advancing progressive and feminist values through the Democratic Party. (The National Stonewall Democratic Federation was a national organization of LGBT Democratic clubs and individuals founded in 1998, in Kansas City, Missouri. On January 1, 2013, National Stonewall suspended operations due to a financial deficit.)
- Vote Save America Just go here–it’s an extraordinary in-your-face site. It’s produced by the folks at Pod Save America.
- Swing Left ~ In 2024, Swing Left’s website opened with: STOP TRUMP. START HERE. If you click on it now, it opens with TOGETHER WE CAN FLIP THE HOUSE. And with the help of Swing Left, we can.
- Sister District ~ The fight for our freedoms lies in the hands of the states.
- Field Team 6 Their tagline is “Register Democrats. Save the World.” Field Team 6 meets people where they are – via phone, text, postcard, social media, and voter drives. Armed with Voterizer.org, they track down “every good-hearted eligible voter we can, and get them on the voter rolls where they belong.”
- Blue Voters Guide ~ “Let endorsements guide you” ~ On this site you have the option of choosing candidates one at a time OR choosing an organization you have an affinity for and building your ballot based on that group’s recommendations. Pretty cool. And you know what I just noticed? If you click on https://bluevoterguide.org/endorsers ~ you’ll find aprilsballot.com (!) (insert head exploding emoji here)
- Open Secrets ~ Following the Money in Politics. “Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, OpenSecrets is the nation’s premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Our mission is to track the flow of money in American politics and provide the data and analysis to strengthen democracy. Our vision is for Americans to use this knowledge to create a more vibrant, representative and accountable democracy.”
MB United ~ “Advocacy Rooted in Community” ~ MB United represents a broad coalition committed to a Manhattan Beach that is welcoming, inclusive, safe and supportive for residents, business, employees and visitors. We advocate for city leadership and policy decisions that promote these goals through grassroots community action and reliable public information. If you live in Manhattan Beach, please consider subscribing to our weekly newsletter which includes summaries of school board and city council meetings, profiles of movers and shakers who are making a difference, as well as local events and businesses.
The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance is a grassroots organization whose steely focus is on the potential for an accidental HF release at the Torrance Refinery. This video shows a 2015 explosion at the refinery, when a piece of equipment weighing 80,000 lbs was sent flying and only missed hitting a tank of superheated HP by a few feet. It would have been “catastrophic” to the surrounding communities.
Click here for videos and maps of the horrendous consequences if MHF (the deadly acid modified hydrofluoric acid) is released by the Torrance Refinery or the Wilmington Refinery. It nearly happened in 2015, and can happen again.
Peace Action ~ When I was 9 or 10, I sent a whole week’s allowance (2 quarters scotchtaped to a piece of cardboard) to the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE). SANE eventually changed their name to PEACE ACTION. Of all the groups I give money to, I save my biggest donation for Peace Action, which is a lean, efficient and politically pragmatic organization. Once a year, a Peace Action staffer comes over for lunch and teaches me a TON about the peace movement and specifically what Peace Action is doing to move our politicians, our policies, our country towards peace. Contact me if you’d like to join us for lunch. Mention “PEACE ACTION” in your message.
Movement Voter Project ~ “Fund the movement to end our political nightmare.” Help MVP move $100 million to local grassroots groups turning out the hardest-to-reach voters who can tip the scales in the places that matter most. MVP raises millions of dollars and supports volunteers in more than 600 grassroots groups of color, youth, and LGBTQ individuals in key states. Local groups are best at registering, motivating, and turning out voters. These are the groups that help elect people who will protect our electoral system and democracy.
The LA County Bar Association rates judges. LACBA considers the following when interviewing and evaluating judicial candidates:
(1) Integrity and character
(2) Judgment and intellectual capacity
(3) Fairness
(4) Experience
(5) Industry and diligence
(6) Judicial temperament, including whether the candidate would be courteous and considerate of counsel, parties, witnesses and jurors, andwhether the candidate is even-tempered
(7) Professional ability and knowledge of the law
(8) Health problems that might affect the candidate’s ability to serve as a judge
(9) General reputation in the community
(10) Civic and community activities
(11) Candor in preparing the Personal Data Questionnaire and list of references, and responding to inquiries by Committee members
(12) Other relevant matters of concern including any issues relating to potential bias
This election is, to put it lightly, consequential (I’ve linked that to a thesaurus, so you can choose your own word for what we’re facing.)
Do you really want someone else to vote on your behalf? If you’re not sure how you feel about an issue or a candidate, check out the terrific voting resources page.
Note: I generally don’t comment on candidates or issues unless they are on my own ballot.
If you live in Los Angeles county, make a plan to vote here.
- Not registered? We’re lucky: California offers Same Day Voter Registration at the Polls
- If you’re mailing it, your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, November 5, 2024.
- Need a replacement ballot? I never got mine for the June primary. If this happens to you, go here or call 800-815-2666. To my surprise, my ballot arrived by mail VERY quickly.