| March 2026 Volume 53 No.6 | | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. | | |
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Click below to read more
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|  | March is here! Our annual in-person Meet and Greet with our elected officials will take place on March 22 from 2:00–3:30 pm at BJ’s Restaurant in Cupertino. This special gathering gives us the opportunity to connect with our local elected officials and remind ourselves, as Tip O’Neill famously said, that “All politics is local.” We look forward to seeing you there for an engaging and energizing afternoon.
March is also the perfect time to get involved in the League’s important work as we prepare for the June primary and November elections. You should have received an eBlast with a message from our Membership Chair, Nina Wong-Dobkin, inviting you to volunteer with the Registrar of Voters. Opportunities include picking up ballots from drop boxes or in-person voting locations and supporting vote centers by delivering materials as needed.
This is a meaningful way to see firsthand how secure and effective our voting system is — while directly helping ensure that every vote counts. Your volunteer hours also generate essential revenue for our League, allowing us to continue providing the voter education and advocacy that strengthen our democracy. Please do sign-up by March 7 if you haven't done so already (Google Form - https://forms.gle/qRu7Bo4b79LHX5cL6).
We also need your help with Voter Service events. For the June election we will be hosting a few candidate forums, and come November there will be many elections, including our city councils and lots of school boards - Foothill–De Anza Community College District, Santa Clara County Board of Education, Fremont Union High School District, Cupertino Union School District, and Sunnyvale School District. There are many opportunities for you to interact with candidates and help prepare for these forums, which are a key part of our League’s educational service to the community. Remember that we are a trusted source of voter information, and candidate forums are central to this important work. There are roles that can fit your time and availability. If you are willing to help, please email Pam Anderson at pjsa.lwvcs@gmail.com.
You will soon see additional opportunities posted on the LWVCS website, including information about the “No Kings” march on March 28. In this issue of the VOTER, you will find more information on LWVCS's involvement in the March 28 No Kings protest and a poster-making party on March 21.
Democracy is both our shared gift and our shared responsibility. Thank you for being a member of LWVCS — and for stepping forward to make a difference. The time to act is now.
From our heart to yours,
Tracey Edwards and Polly Bove
Co-Presidents LWVCS | ________________________________________
|  | | Coffee & Connections
Coffee and Connections took place again on February 5, at Valley Orchard Coffee in Santa Clara. Our cozy group of seven enjoyed drinks and snacks as we chatted and got to know each other. Two attendees describe their experience better than I can.
Betsy M. shared “I really enjoyed meeting other LWV members and prospective members, hearing about our chapter's activities and ways I can participate, and the lively discussion and respectful expression of differing opinions. I'm really glad I went!”
“I really enjoyed meeting other existing members and a prospective member too. Our conversation/debate around ranked choice voting vs primary-based voting was very enlightening. It was refreshing to hear two opposing viewpoints discussed amicably and respectfully. I think that’s the essence of the league’s open culture,” reflected another attendee, Sejal V.
Next Coffee and Connections will likely be in April. Be on the lookout for the particulars in the April VOTER. In the meantime, hope to see you at our Meet and Greet Elected Officials event on March 22. More details to follow. |  | | |  | The voter service team is starting to prepare for the June Primary. If you would like to get involved, please email Pam at voterservice@lwvcs.org.
Some of the events we are planning include:
- Voter information and registration table at the Cupertino Earth Day festival on Saturday April 4.
- Candidate Forum for Assembly District 26 in early May
- ROV volunteering – Drop Box and Vote Center pick-up, Logistics and Supply Center staffing
Please note, there are no state or local ballot measures for Cupertino or Sunnyvale, so we will not be hosting pro-cons for the primary.
For Cupertino and Sunnyvale, the ballot will include California Governor, Congressional District 17, State Assembly District 26, State Senate District 10 and other offices. For state-wide offices, California holds a “top-two open-primary” where all candidates are listed on the ballot and only the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party preference - move on to the general election. In other words, all candidates will appear on the ballot regardless of whether or not you are registered with a political party. Voting in the primary is very important as it determines which candidate move on to the general election.
Here are some key dates for the Primary:
- Voter Registration Deadline is May 18, 2026
- County elections offices begin mailing ballots by May 4, 2026
- Ballot drop-off locations open on May 5, 2026
- Vote centers open for early in-person voting on May 23, 2026
- Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day (June 2, 2026) and received by June 9, 2026
A finally, here are a few things you can do now to prepare:
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| Each year, members of the League of Women Voters conduct interviews with State Senate and Assembly Representatives to discuss upcoming legislative priorities. This year, LWVCS members met with Senator Josh Becker, Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab, and Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens. Full reports will soon be available on the County Council website.
State Senator Josh Becker (District 13)
As Chair of the Natural Resources and Human Resources Committee, Senator Becker is focused on energy policy, utility rate reform, childcare, and criminal justice. This includes addressing the risks and the impacts of wildfires and increasing sea-levels. Becker also expressed strong support for the housing and transportation bonds on the November 2026 ballot, noting that we need funding for low-income housing and to support public transportation.
Another key topic that was discussed was the state budget, and how to address increasing costs for healthcare and education. He cited a few a few options for increasing revenue, such as taxing services or reforming the Prop 13 "split-roll" systems, but also acknowledged that they would face significant hurdles. He does not support the Millionaire’s tax. Technology was another topic that was covered, including the passing of SB 362 (aka The Delete Act), which allows individuals to delete their personal data from brokers. He also advocated for requiring improvements for data centers to paid for upfront, and to have requirements to curtail use during peak hours.
State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab (District 10)
Senator Wahab identified the state budget as the most critical issue facing the legislature, particularly the need to mitigate the impact of federal spending cuts to safety net programs caused by HR1, and the opportunity to lower costs by reducing redundancy and eliminating outdated services. Senator Wahab is also focused housing policy, and increasing paths to home ownership. She noted the widening gap in homeownership, with the average age for a first-time buyer age rising to 40 vs. 23 a few decades ago.
A few other topics we covered included artificial intelligence, increasing transparency and accountability in Alameda County government and SB31 a bill that would establish the right for adoptees to obtain their original birth certificate once they are eighteen years-old. Regarding AI, Wahab spoke about the need to establish AI safeguards without stifling innovation, highlighting the need to prioritize people, ensuring that they are not victims of deep fakes or predatory pricing, and learning to use AI to improve jobs vs. replace them.
State Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens (District 26)
Assemblymember Ahrens agreed that the budget is the key issue facing the legislature this year, and specifically highlighted the need for both tax reform and reducing government spending. Regarding tax reform he emphasized that the state needs to find alternatives to sales taxes to raise revenue, such as reducing corporate tax breaks and finding ways to replace gas tax income as more drivers move to electric and hybrid cars.
Assemblymember Ahrens also shared his legislative package the covers six core areas, including a Young Person’s Tax Credit, Food Desert Prevention, Mobile Home Protections, Housing for Foster and Homeless Youth, and an Optional Jury Duty Exemption for citizens over 80 years old. Ahrens specifically noted that an unintended consequence of some state housing policy has been the closing of smaller, locally-owned grocery-stores, creating food deserts in lower-income neighborhoods, and noted that the jury duty exemption would be an option, not a requirement. Assemblymember Ahrens also highlighted the need to address CSU administrator salaries, highlighting that salaries increases were approved at the same time that student tuition was increased and course offering were reduced.
Finally, while reflecting on his first year in office, Assemblymember Ahrens emphasized the need to develop relationships with other legislators and find common ground regardless of their party affiliation. One of the accomplishments from his first year that he is most proud of was working across the aisle to save Head Start funding from being cut in HR1. | Ranked Choice Voting in Santa Clara County?
Ranked Choice Voting will be on the agenda of an upcoming meeting of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. They will be considering whether to implement it for special elections (like the one we had for our assessor in November 2025). It would only be for elected positions at the county level. These eight positions are: five members of the Board of Supervisors, County Assessor, County District Attorney, and County Sheriff.
Possible dates for the meeting where Ranked Choice Voting will be on the agenda of the County Board of Supervisors are March 10 or March 24. Exact dates will be announced about one week before the meeting. You can check meeting agenda updates at https://sccgov.iqm2.com/Citizens/Calendar.aspx. Meeting zoom link will be on that meeting’s agenda. You are encouraged to make your voice heard by speaking at the meeting (in person or virtually), or write to the supervisors (BoardOperations@cob.sccgov.org). We will send a short e-blast as soon as we know the date of the meeting.
Ranked Choice Voting is an alternative voting method where, when more than two candidates are running, voters mark their first choice, second choice, third choice and so on for candidates running for the same office.
Ballots are initially sorted out by voters' first choices. If one candidate has a majority (50% + 1) of first choices, that candidate wins.
If not, the candidate who ranked last is eliminated. If a voter’s first choice candidate is still in the running, that voter’s ballot stays with their first choice candidate. But if a voter’s first choice candidate was eliminated, then that voter’s ballot choice moves to their second choice candidate.
Then the ballots get sorted again. if one candidate then has a majority they win. If not, this process is repeated until one candidate gets a majority. There is no need for run-off elections.
Questions or more info: email Nina at ninaw.lwvcs@gmail.com
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Join a Committee - contact communications@lwvcs.org for questions.
|  | | LWVCS at NO KINGS SUNNYVALE
Saturday, March 28, 2-4 PM
780 E. El Camino Real
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Poster/Sign-Making
Saturday, March 21, 2-4 PM
The League of Women Voters is a national partner with the No Kings movement.
LWVCS is planning to have a group at the No Kings rally along El Camino Real on Saturday March 28th. We plan to focus on the importance of voting in the June 2nd Primary Election.
If you’re interested in participating in the Sunnyvale rally with our LWVCS group, please sign up with the Sunnyvale No Kings organizers, either through the LWVCS website Event signup or on the No Kings signup page.
Also, come put your passion and creativity on a protest sign with other members, Saturday, March 21, 2-4 PM, at a location in Cupertino. We plan to make Posters and Banners.
Register for this fun event on our LWVCS.org website (If you’re a member, don’t forget to Log In!) Basic supplies will be provided (poster boards, markers, some pre-printed images) but feel free to bring your own!
Please, REGISTER for poster-making BEFORE MARCH 13 so we have time and to get back to you with directions to where we’ll be working and to purchase enough supplies.
See you March 21 and March 28. Let’s Defend Democracy and Get Out The Vote!
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LWV Statement About the President’s Unilateral Military Action in Iran
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WASHINGTON, DC—The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement on behalf of Celina Stewart, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, regarding the President’s military action in Iran:
“The League of Women Voters is deeply concerned by the President’s decision to initiate unprovoked military action against Iran without prior congressional authorization.
“This is not about the character of any individual involved. It is about constitutional authority and the dangerous subversion of our system of checks and balances.
“The Constitution clearly assigns the power to declare war to Congress, an authority that was intentionally ignored. When a president goes around Congress to initiate military action, it is not a sign of strength. It is executive overreach and dangerous to Americans, both domestically and abroad.
“The President’s recent actions fit a broader and alarming pattern of stretching emergency powers that pushes those limits toward rupture. By invoking emergency powers, bypassing legislative oversight, and concentrating authority in the executive branch, these patterns risk weakening the safeguards of our republic and eroding the accountability that protects against overreach.
“There are no verified threats to our elections that justify extraordinary or unilateral action. Repeated claims of foreign interference used to rationalize expanded executive authority have been investigated and disproven. Escalatory actions like this only heighten instability abroad and deepen division at home.
“Congress must immediately assert its constitutional role, demand transparency, and reaffirm that decisions of war and peace cannot rest with one administration.
“But accountability does not start or stop in Washington. It lives with the American people.
“The 2026 primary elections begin tomorrow in Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina. In moments like this, voters have the opportunity and the responsibility to evaluate whether their representatives are upholding the Constitution, asserting their authority, and protecting democratic checks and balances.”
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Immigration
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.
| | League in Action –
Impact of Regional Plans and Legislation on the Bay Area
Friday, March 20, 2026, Noon-2:00 pm via Zoom
Register here today! | | Sharing Perspectives on LWV California Policies & Plans:
Lorrel Plimmier and Kandea Mosley Gandhi, LWVC Co-Presidents
Bring your questions and ideas on how LWVC Policy influences the action of Bay Area Leagues on housing, climate and healthy communities with our expert panel: Diz Swift, Teri Neustaedter and Laurel Prevetti.
Learn more about Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan and BCDC from Danielle Flanagan and Sabrina Lopez | | | ________________________________________ | 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 | ________________________________________ | 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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