| February 2026 Volume 53 No.5 | | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. | | |  | In keeping with our theme from December, this month we are again focusing on the answer to the question “What can I do to make a difference?”. Our message this month is inviting you to apply to be a member of the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. This is a powerful way to participate in democracy, and we believe that our League members are uniquely qualified for this opportunity.
RECRUITMENT FOR THE 2026-27 SANTA CLARA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY BEGINS
Presiding Judge Julie A. Emede of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, is inviting civic-minded residents to apply for service on the 2026–27 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury, a cornerstone of government transparency, accountability, and public oversight.
The Civil Grand Jury is an independent investigatory body convened annually to examine the operations of county and city government, school districts, special districts, and other local public agencies. Under the Court’s direction, grand jurors are empowered to review records, evaluate government programs, inspect detention facilities, and issue findings and recommendations that promote ethical, efficient, and transparent governance.
Why you?
Individuals, with experience in the League of Women Voters are especially well suited for Civil Grand Jury service. LWV members and volunteers bring a strong foundation in nonpartisan civic engagement, government structure, and public policy analysis—skills directly aligned with the Jury’s investigative and oversight responsibilities. Your experience researching complex issues, facilitating candidate forums, and preparing unbiased voter education materials, equips you to evaluate evidence objectively, work collaboratively, and communicate findings clearly to the public. This commitment to informed participation and good government makes you an ideal applicant for Civil Grand Jury service. Please do consider applying.
Recruitment for the upcoming Civil Grand Jury term officially opened on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, with applications due by Friday, March 27, 2026. Applications and informational materials — including the Civil Grand Jury brochure and online application — are available on the Court’s website. For questions or additional information, please contact Britney Huelbig, Deputy Court Manager for the Civil Grand Jury, at 408-882-2721 or CGJ@scscourt.org.
Tracey Edwards is currently serving her second year on the Civil Grand Jury, and she has said “serving on the Civil Grand Jury is and has been a rewarding experience that provides a unique opportunity to work collaboratively on investigations that strengthen local government accountability and improves public trust.” If you are considering applying and have questions, feel free to email Tracey at president@lwvcs.org and put Civil Grand Jury in the subject line of the email.
From our heart to yours,
Tracey Edwards and Polly Bove
Co-presidents LWVCS | ________________________________________
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Member & Friends Coffee
The next Member and Friends Coffee will be on Thursday, February 5th, 11AM to Noon.
Where: Orchard Valley Coffee, 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, very close to Lawrence Expressway and 280, near Cupertino/Santa Clara border. Very easy parking.
Signup here before Feb 3 - https://forms.gle/wTcD6Z52LCDcBPf57 |
| Letter from our Membership Director, Nina Wong-Dobkin
In the last three elections (November 2024, November 2025, and December 2025), we have seen a quarter of our members participate in our league’s involvement with Santa Clara County elections and raising funds for our league. We received training on jobs like Drop Box Couriers (picking up and transporting ballots from Drop Boxes to the Registrar of Voters Office), Vote Center Couriers (picking up and transporting ballots from Vote Centers to the ROV), and coordinators at Logistics and Supply Center. We have raised over $3000 for each of the last three elections (November 2024, November 2025 Special Election and the December County Assessor Run-off Election).
Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. We will have more opportunities in the primary and general elections in 2026 and we look forward to introducing more of our members, their family and friends, to join us, as well as welcoming back everyone who has participated.
The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is asking our members to consider helping pick up ballots from Drop Boxes located in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy. PLEASE let me know if you want to help. The days of collection will be Saturday, Sunday, Monday before elections and election day (June primary and November general for 2026). We will still have boxes in Sunnyvale from which we’d collected in the last 3 elections.
Want to learn more about this opportunity in person? Come to Coffee with Nina, sign up with this Google Form: https://forms.gle/4Z1NtzArDeKNrn8N8
February 5, 11 AM, at Orchard Valley Coffee, 5237 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara.
Watch for calls for volunteers in our VOTER and eBlast in March. Any questions about this—please reach out to me at Membership@lwvcs.org.
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Join a Committee - contact communications@lwvcs.org for questions.
| February 19th virtual Coffee Hour to feature Ava Chiao, Cupertino School Board
- Speaking on current CUSD challenges via Zoom here
- Virtual Coffee Hours to resume to resume third Thursday - on March 19th, 11am, via Zoom here
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Civic Engagement Committee Report
“Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.”
Upcoming program topics:
- Guest Speaker Cheryl Graeve of NICD, on Common Sense America, February TBD
- Housing for All – Dream or Possibility? – Proposed next event; suggest we do live at a local venue in March - April timeframe. Check out Sunnyvale Presbyterian, Quinlan Community Center, Cupertino Chamber.
- Abundance – discussion – Ellen & Carol – local issues – economic strengths & weaknesses – To be a future event
- AI Regulation – How, When, Where? Speaker?
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Ways to Reengage in Community- Spring, 2026 with Braver Angels partner
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Join our regular meeting February 16 at 1pm via Zoom
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Regular Monthly Meetings on third Monday here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81458090755?pwd=qGJ0UMbtuqOqjnT2DL87dNBoAaFFSE.1
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Statement from the League of Women Voters on Federal Immigration Enforcement and the Erosion of Constitutional Rights
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WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement in response to the continued escalation of federal military activity in Minnesota from federal immigration officials:
“The League of Women Voters condemns the escalating actions by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that put people at risk, deny individuals their constitutional rights, and undermine the democratic values meant to protect us all.
“We are horrified by federal immigration enforcement operations that deliberately infringe upon First Amendment rights to assemble and dissent. The use of intimidation, surveillance, and deadly force against lawful protestors is not public safety—it is repression. The use of lethal force against people exercising their constitutional rights is unacceptable and must be fully investigated. These fatalities, followed by false narratives designed to obscure the truth and impede oversight, represent a historic abuse of power we’ve never seen as a country. Democracy cannot endure when its government uses violence to silence dissent and evade accountability.
“The League of Women Voters will continue to organize, speak out, and act to ensure no agency is above the law. We call on Congress to investigate these actions and require accountability measures on the Department of Homeland Security. ICE and other federal immigration officials must cooperate with the appropriate level of law enforcement when civilians are hurt or killed and face accountability when they fail to comply. The League will continue to mount a unified response that defends constitutional rights, protects civic participation, and demands accountability for abuses of power.
“We will continue our partnership with LULAC, Common Cause, and additional partners to hold ICE accountable and amplify our concerns on its lack of transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance.
“The League of Women Voters reaffirms that the rights outlined in the Constitution belong to all people, without exception. We will not accept policies or practices that suppress civic participation, weaponize enforcement, or undermine fundamental rights and human dignity.”
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| Know Your Rights
Legal Help
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Contact Your Representatives
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| ________________________________________ | LWC Bay Area - LWVBA
LWVBA Board meetings are the third Monday of the month - and all are welcome! Join via the Calendar link on the LWVBA website.
Check in on Regional Agency Reports & League News here.
Bay Area League Day - March 20 League Day – noon to 2pm via Zoom.
- Our theme this year is “Our Sharing Perspectives on LWV California Policies & Plans”
- Our speakers include Lorrel Plimmer and Kandea Mosley Gandhi, LWVC Co-Presidents, an expert panel on housing, climate and healthy communities with Diz Swift, Teri Neustaedter and Laurel Prevetti and speakers on Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP) and Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) from Danielle Flanagan and Sabrina Lopez.
- Focus on new Board Member recruitment
- Preview our new website at https://www.lwvbayarea.com
| ________________________________________ | City of Cupertino
City Council Meetings - (Check website for current dates)
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce - check out their activities here | ________________________________________ | Sunnyvale City Events Calendar - and More... here
City Council Meetings - more info Here.
Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce events | ________________________________________ | LWV Cupertino-Sunnyvale Board Meeting Notes (January):
- Happy New Year!
- Prep for legislative interviews
- Discussion for prepping for mid-term elections
| ____________________________________________ | Elected Officials Representing Cupertino & Sunnyvale
For contact information and more detail visit:
| ____________________________________________ | Join the League of Women Voters
Voting membership in the League of Women Voters is open to men and women 16 years of age and beyond.
To get more information about the League, Join, Renew or Donate, click here.
| | | ____________________________________________ | | The Cupertino-Sunnyvale VOTER
Published 10 times a year by the
League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale.
This newsletter is posted on our website:
Editor: Meagan McLeod
| | The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Permission is granted to reprint any part of this newsletter with credit to the League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale | | | ____________________________________________ | League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale
PO Box 2923
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
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