Newsletters & E-Blasts - LWVCS - League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale

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Date: 10/1/2026
Subject: LWVCS VOTER October 2026
From: LWVCS - Cupertino-Sunnyvale League of Women Voters

October 2026 Volume 53 No.11

Empowering Voters.

Defending Democracy.

Co-presidents' Letter
Membership Outreach Update
Get Involved
Stay Informed
Take Action

Co-Presidents' Letter

Often, we get inspiration from other “layers” of the League be it a fellow local League group, the Bay Area, State, or National Leagues. This is a particularly important and welcome message from Jenny Farrell, Executive Director League of Women Voters of California that is worth sharing here:

“As we head into the final weeks before the November election, I want to begin with some very good news: Californians can continue to vote by mail just as they have before. After weeks of uncertainty, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to allow new federal restrictions on mail voting to take effect for this election. For California voters, the most important message is simple: You can vote in the way that works for you. You can vote by mail. You can vote early. You can return your ballot at a secure drop box. You can vote in person. Those choices are one of the great strengths of California’s election system.

So please help us calm the fears and confusion that have been created around voting by mail. It remains a perfectly valid way to cast your ballot. If you choose to vote by mail, we encourage you to do it early: California election officials recommend putting your ballot in the mail at least seven days before Election Day to help ensure that it receives a timely postmark.“

The League is uniquely positioned to reassure voters and provide clarity in a confusing landscape. A recent New York Times article highlighted how public trust in major institutions has dramatically waned. "Americans of all political stripes have lost trust in America’s institutions, industries and politicians." Yet, the reputation of the League and other nonpartisan civic organizations remains strong. Because we are a trusted voice, we have both the authority and the responsibility to remind voters that their voices matter. Please, with the election only a little more than a month away, use every opportunity to share Jenny’s message throughout our community.

Thank you to everyone working tirelessly to educate and engage voters—hosting Candidate Forums, presenting Pros & Cons, managing VOTE411, partnering with student and community groups, and volunteering at the Registrar of Voters. When you wonder if your efforts are making a difference, know that they truly do, and that we are fortunate to represent an institution people still deeply respect.

Sincerely,

Polly Bove and Tracey Edwards

Co-Presidents, LWVCS

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Member Outreach Update

Is it time for you to renew your membership?

Log into your account on the membership portal, www.lwvcs.org, to find out.

You can also email membership director, Nina Wong-Dobkin (membership@lwvcs.org) to find out if it is time for you to renew your membership. She will be thrilled to hear from you and will be happy to help.

Members and Friends Coffee

Join our Membership Director, Nina Wong-Dobkin, for a casual gathering over coffee/tea, meet other members and friends, check in, connect, get election-related updates/information.

Saturday, October 10.10AM

@Peet’s Coffee - 144 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale.

Please sign up at here. Sign up before October 9, 2 PM to get a special treat!

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About volunteering for this election:

Sign up for volunteering for this November's election is closed. Thank you to everyone who has signed up! We often have a rather short window of time during which we have to recruit volunteers to fill all our assigned slots. Be on the lookout about 2-3 months before the next election and sign up right away when you see a call for volunteers.

However every one can do one very important part .... VOTE!! And vote early! Using Ballot Drop Boxes and Vote Centers are best! Check out our website for nonpartisan information which will help you make your choices on the ballot.

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LWVCS Virtual Coffee Hour

LWVCS Virtual Coffee Hour took place on September 24 with presentation on SAVE act. You can view it here.

LWVCS August Virtual Coffee Hour was with Claudio Bono from "Givearoof" organization. You can view it here.

Next Virtual Coffee Hour: October 15, 11a.m. with discussion around - Your Voting Plan; Location: on Zoom here.

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Get Involved

Voter Service Update – Ready, Set, Vote!

Ballots for the November 2026 Election arrive next week. The League of Women Voters is proud to empower our community with non-partisan, reliable information so you can make informed choices at the ballot box. Even if you’re a seasoned voter, please share this information with friends, family, and neighbors who might need a little extra guidance this election season.

Three Ways to Return Your Ballot
California elections are all "Vote by Mail" meaning all registered voters receive their ballot by mail and can choose from three secure ways to return it. Vote in the way that works best for you, and remember to sign and date the back of the return envelope!

- By U.S. Mail: No postage necessary, but make sure your ballot is post-marked on or before election day. If you mail your ballot on or near November 3, it is
best to get a manual postmark inside a post office.

- By Drop Box: Deliver your ballot to any drop box in the county on or before 8pm on November 3. A list of local drop boxes is included with your ballot.

- In Person: Vote Centers open on either Saturday, October 24, or Saturday, October 31, so you can still vote in-person, but no need to wait until Tuesday,

November 3rd . Vote centers hours are 9am-5pm, with extra hours, 7am-8pm on election day. You can either fill out your ballot there or drop off your completed
ballot at a vote center.

Track Your Ballot

Sign up to receive real-time automatic notifications when your ballot is mailed, received, and counted at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.

Who’s On Your Ballot?
California voters will be electing leaders at the federal, state and local levels:
- Federal: U.S. House of Representatives – District 17
- State Leaders: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer and other statewide officials
- State Legislature: State Assembly District 26, State Senate District 10 (covering Sunnyvale)
- City of Cupertino: City Council members (3 seats)
- School Districts: First election since moving to Trustee Area elections for Fremont Union High School District, Trustee Areas 3 & 4 and Foothill DeAnza Community College District, Area 4

Note: Several local candidates are running unopposed, including Sunnyvale City Council Seats 1, 3, and 5, and the Cupertino Union School District.

Candidate Forums

Candidate forums are your chance to hear directly from the candidates about their experience, priorities and key issues, and they are now “on-demand”. Videos of candidate forums are posted at LWVCS.org/election-forums and most of them have timestamps so that you can focus on questions or issues that are most important to you.

VOTE411

Visit VOTE411.org to enter your address and view a personalized ballot guide.

Ballot Measures & Propositions

This election includes 14 statewide measures covering topics that include taxes, election reform, and infrastructure bonds. You will also see a Bay Area Regional Sales Tax measure for public transportation, plus local measures for Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and the El Camino Healthcare District.

We encourage you to use these non-partisan League resources to do your research, in addition to the Voter Information Guides published by the Secretary of State and County Registrar of Voters:
- Easy Voter Guide (EVG): Concise, 1-page summaries of each state proposition. Available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Korean.

- Pros & Cons Publications: Balanced summaries of the propositions and the arguments for and against each measure - available individually or as a single PDF download.

- Live Pros & Cons Presentation: Join us in person at the Cupertino Library on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 PM, or watch recordings on our website at lwvcs.org/election-forums.

Where the League Stands
The mission of the League of Women Voters is to empower voters and defend democracy, through both voter education and advocacy. To view the League of Women Voters' official recommendations on ballot measures, visit Vote With the League.

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Stay Informed

Update from LWV Bay Area

Presentation on Prop 45 Regional Transit Measure on September 24th with Emily Loper of Bay Area Council; recording will be available at www.lwvbayarea.org

LWV Bay Area Board Meeting: October 19, 4:00p.m. - 6:00p.m.; Focus: Vote with League; Location on Zoom here.

Additional Regional League Updates:

View recording of “How does our Registrar of Voters ensure safe and secure elections?” with Matt Moreles, Head of the Santa Clara County Registrar of
Voters

View recording of "What is the SAVE Act and why should you care?" (A California version will be on the November ballot - Prop 39)

LWV Civic Engagement Committee Meeting: October 19, 1:00p.m.; Location on Zoom here.

LWV Civic Engagement Committee Event: Next event planned for January 2027; Focus: Housing.

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* Through its digital nonpartisan voter guide, VOTE411, the LWV served over 9.19 million voters during the 2024 election cycle! Voters used it to check registration, view candidate stances, and find polling info.

* A study highlighted by Independent Sector found that ~70% of Americans agree that non-profit, non-partisan organizations play a beneficial role in encouraging voter participation.

"Nonprofits continue to been seen as good at what they do, honest, and mission-driven. Ratings across key trust pillars remain strong, even as confidence in other institutions decline."

Read the full report here.

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Questions/Contact? Email: communications@lwvcs.org

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Take Action

Join the League of Women Voters

Membership is open to everyone age 16 and older, regardless of gender.

Join Us

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About this Newsletter

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:

www.lwvcs.org.

Editor: Sejal Vijayakar

communications@lwvcs.org

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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