Your Voice, Your Vote: Everything you need to know for the 2020 election
Fall 2020 — Special Topics #1
Election Day is November 3, and it’s hard to imagine an election in recent history more unprecedented and consequential. In the face of COVID-19, our society’s reckoning with racial justice, the increasing impact of climate change, and much more, there is much at stake on the ballot this year. Election Day is November 3, but you can start voting now. For mail-in ballots, November 3 is the vote by deadline. It must be postmarked by November 3, so mail in your ballot now!
Voting is one of the easiest and most important ways to make a change; if we don’t exercise our privilege to decide on candidates and policies, someone else will get to decide for us. Civic engagement is particularly critical for our theme of environmental justice. Communities of color are disproportionately hurt by climate change, and the same racism applies to criminal justice, healthcare, education, and more. These issues will all be affected by the election, and we encourage everyone to prioritize racial and environmental justice when voting. Additionally, voter suppression tactics such as voter ID laws target low income and BIPOC voters. Voting is a privilege, and we should express our voices at the ballot box on behalf of those who have been unfairly denied that right.
How to Vote
Register to vote
- Berkeley students (and all California college students) can register to vote at castudentvote.org; others can can register at registertovote.ca.gov or vote.org. The California registration deadline was October 19, but you can register for future elections.
- Californians can check their registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. If you’ve moved recently due to COVID-19, check your registration!
Casting your ballot
- Every registered California voter will receive a mail-in ballot. This must be dropped off/postmarked by November 3 and received in the mail by November 20.
- Make sure to use blue or black ink on your ballot, and sign and date the return envelope. Your signature must match the identification you used to register (usually your driver’s license or California state ID).
- Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov to find locations to vote early or drop off your ballot. You can also find locations to vote in person through same-day registration if you didn’t register before October 19.
- For Berkeley voters, there are two polling locations on campus: Pauley Ballroom in MLK and the Lawrence Hall of Science; there is also a ballot dropbox near Sproul Hall.
After voting
- Sign up for notifications on the status of your ballot at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.
More resources
- ASUC Vote Coalition (@asucvoteco on Instagram, asuc.org/vote)
- California Secretary of State Office
- castudentvote.org
- Alameda County Registrar of Voters
California propositions
This year, Californians will vote on 12 propositions on issues ranging from taxes to affirmative action. Below are basic overviews of each proposition, as well as more resources.
- Proposition 14 would authorize $5.5 billion in bonds to fund stem cell research and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
- Proposition 15 would increase funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by taxing commercial and industrial real estate property based on its current market value instead of the purchase price (with exceptions for small businesses with less than $3 million in property).
- Proposition 16 would overturn California’s ban on affirmative action, allowing public universities, public schools, and government agencies to consider race and sex in admissions and contract decisions.
- Proposition 17 would allow Californians on parole for felony convictions to vote; there are currently 40,000 people on parole who cannot vote.
- Proposition 18 would allow 17 year olds to vote in California primary and special elections if they will be eligible to vote by the general election.
- Proposition 19 allows homeowners 55 or older to transfer their residence’s property tax base value to a new residence anywhere in the state, while also limiting tax breaks for inherited real estate. The new revenues would go towards fire protection, local governments and schools, and the state.
- Proposition 20 would increase penalties for repeated parole violations and property crimes such as shoplifting, require DNA collection of people convicted of certain misdemeanors, and restrict parole for certain convicted felons.
- Proposition 21 would allow cities to establish rent control on almost all rental housing more than 15 years old (with an exemption for landlords that own no more than two properties).
- Proposition 22 would classify app-based drivers (such as Uber/Lyft) as independent contractors instead of employees. Classifying drivers as employees would entitle them to more benefits such as overtime, health benefits, paid sick leave, and unemployment insurance, but would decrease the flexibility of their work schedules. Proposition 22 would also require a ⅞ majority by state legislators for future amendments.
- Proposition 23 would require kidney dialysis clinics to have a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on-site during treatment. It would also prohibit clinics from closing without approval from the state, and from refusing to treat patients based on insurance. 80,000 Californians currently rely on dialysis for treatment.
- Proposition 24 would change California’s data privacy regulations by letting consumers prevent businesses from using their data (such as location, health, and race). It also increases financial penalties, decreases the period that businesses can keep your data, and creates the California Privacy Protection Agency. Some provisions of Proposition 24 would potentially allow businesses to use people’s data when they leave California and charge more to consumers who don’t consent to their data being used.
- Proposition 25 would replace the cash bail system for crimes with a risk assessment algorithm; those deemed low risk would be released before their trial, while those deemed higher risk would remain detained.
For more information about the propositions, Ballotpedia, CalMatters, and the ASUC Vote Coalition/Cal ACLU voter guide are all great resources. The California Environmental Justice Alliance also has a voter guide from the lens of environmental justice. For Berkeley city propositions, voters can reference this voter guide from the ASUC Vote Coalition.
Other ways to be civically engaged
There are countless ways to be involved in politics! Nearly every candidate, proposition, and civic organization needs volunteers or donations right now. Choose something you’re passionate about, and phone bank, text bank, canvass, or donate! You can also encourage your family and friends to vote. This is as easy as texting the 5–10 most recent people in your messages, or starting a conversation in your family or friend group chat.
Importantly, though, civic engagement doesn’t only happen during elections. It’s important to acknowledge that while voting is important, it is a limited tool, and many marginalized communities and issues have gone neglected regardless of who wins elections. Because of this, civic engagement should become a habit! You can stay informed with current affairs by including news in your social media feed or signing up for daily newsletters from sources like The New York Times or The Week (all Berkeley students get a free NYT subscription!). It’s also great to read local news sources to keep up with local affairs.
Conveying concerns to elected officials is also extremely impactful. Politicians, particularly city and House representatives, care much more about constituent communications than you’d expect! A personalized email or call about an issue puts it on their radar and truly does impact their decisions. City and county governments also usually offer public comment periods at their meetings. To apply more pressure, you can also create talking points or a template for others to contact these officials too. Especially recently, we’ve seen these citizen-generated campaigns have a huge impact, and it all starts with an individual like you.
Last but not least, you can support organizers, activists, and community members in many other ways. Whether it’s donating to mutual aid funds, donating to local organizations that don’t have the resources of a national organization, or volunteering, community engagement extends far beyond politics.
Get out and vote!
Make sure to vote early, vote safely, and vote down the ballot! This is your chance to make your voice heard (and is hopefully just the beginning of your long term civic engagement). Our community is stronger when everyone contributes to how it’s governed, so get out and vote by November 3!
Author: Vivian Kuang | Editor: Serena Lowe | Graphics: Natalie Chu | Team: Social Good
