Fabulous Voter Resources ~ dive in!
Get Ready to Vote
… AND VOTE that day. Hooray for the CA Secretary of State’s office!
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)
Voting questions? Call 1 (877) 321-VOTE (8683). Currently open 9am–6pm M–F. The Hotline resumes full hours in October and runs through the General Election. The Voter Protection line is open 7am–8pm on Election Day.
The Election Protection Hotline answers your voting questions. Visit the website or call: 866-our-vote (866-687-8683)
Understand the Issues & Candidates
Compiled by a concerned citizen who wants you to VOTE!
MikePAC provides voting recommendations for California’s often confusing ballot items.
The Fundraising link will take you to his ActBlue page to learn about effective places he suggests putting political donations.
“Let endorsements guide you.” Choose candidates one at a time, OR choose an organization you have an affinity for and build your ballot based on their recommendations.
Guess what? If you jump to the Endorsers page and the California section, yours truly is listed!
🤯How cool is that?!
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.)
(Also on Instagram: @calmatters)
Find your local Indivisible and ask if they send out endorsements, too.
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.”
Here’s their 8-question quiz—it’s eye-opening!
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.)
The LAist is 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.
See how the far right votes. Very useful to see what not to vote for. (“News and Resources from a Christian Worldview” ~ argh.)
Local & Community Resources
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.
Known as Sea Change, it is for El Segundo residents, but all are welcome to subscribe and show up at their events.
“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 the 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.
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.
Democratic Party & Allied Clubs
Fight for California’s most vulnerable communities, protect working families and ensure that we can all live up to the promises of the California dream.
My local Dem club. They post their endorsements.
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.
Respite from the News
Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! is NPR’s weekly hour-long quiz program. Each week on the radio you can test your knowledge against some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world while figuring out what’s real news and what’s made up. On the Web, you can play along too.
Funny Times cartoon and humor newspaper thinks goofing off is serious business. They’ve been doing that for nearly 40 years, both in print and online. They’re 100% independent, ad-free, and lovingly edited by real humans like you. Life’s too short to be bummed out!
Stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression.
This free app that allows you to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from your local public library. Use it to find your own particular diversions when you need a break.
Take Action — Volunteer & Organize
“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.
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.
The fight for our freedoms lies in the hands of the states.
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.”
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!
It’s produced by the folks at Pod Save America.
My very smart sister sent them to me. They are the oldest and largest progressive faith-based public policy organization in California. For more of what they do, click here.
Local & Community Resources
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.
Known as Sea Change, it is for El Segundo residents, but all are welcome to subscribe and show up at their events.
“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 the 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.
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.
Ground Control is a nonpartisan volunteer hub dedicated to helping protect U.S. elections by connecting people with meaningful election-related volunteer opportunities.
Democratic Party & Allied Clubs
Fight for California’s most vulnerable communities, protect working families and ensure that we can all live up to the promises of the California dream.
My local Dem club. They post their endorsements.
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 largest Latino club in the country. View a booklet of candidates Avance supports.
Causes & Advocacy
Without the ERA, women will keep falling through the cracks – because our equality is not explicitly protected in the Constitution. And right now – when attacks on bodily autonomy, healthcare access, economic stability, LGBTQ+ rights, and protection from violence are escalating – those cracks are not abstract. They are where people disappear.
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.
I think it was Samantha Bee who originally turned me on to the CPJ.
The CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, defending the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
Contribute & Donate
“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.
Detention Watch Network is a national coalition building power through collective advocacy, grassroots organizing, and strategic communications to abolish immigration detention in the United States.
Get Inspired!
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)
Sing to protect and care for your community in the face of rising authoritarianism. The Singing Resistance is a movement grounded in love, nonviolence, and solidarity.
