Have you got your ballot yet?
Many SF voters have received our ballots by now. Our ballots have 10 state propositions and 15 local propositions, plus candidate races such as president, mayor, a Senate seat, your assemblymember, your supervisor (if you’re in an odd-numbered district), and your BART district.
It really helps to start your research now. You don’t need to wait until your ballot arrives—the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be ready. Now is the time to start reading up on your choices in the California Voter Information Guide and the San Francisco Voter Information Pamphlet, both of which you can read online. These and other resources are on our Vote page.
If you live in the City and you haven’t gotten your ballot yet, you should check your voter registration status. If you need to update it or it turns out you’re not registered, register to vote so you can get your ballot mailed to you. You should also sign up for California’s ballot tracking to find out when they mail your ballot to you and when it gets counted after you return it.
Vote NO on Prop 36 (and tell 10 friends)
Ten years ago, California passed Proposition 47, which made punishments fit their crimes. Two years before that, 2012’s Proposition 36 ended the failed policy of “three strikes and you’re out” and the violence it caused, making all Californians safer.
This year brings a new Proposition 36, which aims to re-break some of the things that the earlier propositions fixed. It takes a huge step backwards in California’s progress by trying to take us back to the failed policy era of “tough on crime” and “three strikes.”
Proposition 36 is a false solution to real problems. As noted in this 48 Hills opinion piece,
“Backed by big-box retailers and law enforcement, Proposition 36 is being touted as a solution to homelessness and the scourge of fentanyl on the streets. But the initiative does not provide money for housing or treatment beds or allocate any money to create new funding sources to enforce it. In fact, the ballot measure has little to do with addiction and nothing at all to do with homelessness.“
Since 2014, Proposition 47 has reduced California’s prison overcrowding and saved the state more than $800 million, which the state uses instead to fund projects that prevent further crime, trauma recovery for crime victims, and programs to prevent violence in schools. By ending Prop 47’s successes, Proposition 36 would cost Californians between tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars every year,
Worse, Proposition 36 would create a new “three strikes” policy. We know these don’t work and create more violence as offenders seek to avoid a third arrest that could turn into a felony conviction. Let’s not have more police chases and armed showdowns on our streets.
Other resources to learn more about Proposition 36 include the LA Times Endorsement to vote No on Proposition 36, the Vera Institute’s explanation, and the No on Prop 36 campaign website.
Let’s protect the progress we’ve made in making our cities safer. We urge you to vote NO on Proposition 36.
In addition, many of your friends and family are likely not aware of the harms that this proposition will do, and they’re likely getting lied to about Prop 47. We ask you to talk with 10 or more of your friends and family members about this proposition to help pre-bunk or debunk the disinformation and fill them in on the truth. The ACLU of Northern California has talking points, resources, and other ways to get involved.
You can pass along our blog post opposing Prop 36, which has all of the above information.
Get your free COVID-19 tests and your 2024 vaccines!
The Biden-Harris administration has brought back COVIDTests.gov. You can order four more rapid tests from the USPS to be mailed to your home address.
Prepare now for the winter surge by ordering your tests today. Don’t wait—the earlier you order, the earlier you’ll have them.
And, good news for uninsured Californians: The California Department of Public Health has opened a statewide replacement for the CDC’s recently-expired Bridge Access Program, providing free COVID-19 vaccines this October through December. This, along with the annual flu vaccine that is also now available, will be vital protection for you and your community.
Indivisible SF Postcards and Ballots Party: Sunday, Oct. 13, 4–6 PM at Standard Deviant. Join us in reaching out to voters in other districts/states to help win the 2024 elections! Standard Deviant is at 280 14th Street (near Mission), San Francisco, CA 94103. RSVP here for the 13th.
TODAY: The Many over MAGA Phonebank: Call white voters with Showing Up for Racial Justice: Sunday, Oct. 13, 12–3 PM. Call white voters in Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, and Ohio with SURJ on Wednesdays and Sundays! RSVP here.
Text Bank into California with GDHQ: Monday, Oct. 14, 4:30–5:45 PM. Join the Grassroots Democrats HQ Text Team to mobilize voters for 2024 via text. These sessions continue every Monday and Wednesday through Oct. 23. RSVP here.
Knock Doors in Bakersfield for Rudy Salas: Sunday, Oct. 13. It’s time to talk to Democratic voters in CD22 for Rudy Salas! Let’s build the grassroots power Democrats need to win in 2024 and to defend democracy long term. Join us in going door-to-door talking to Democratic voters. $100 stipends a day to offset the cost of gas and lodging are available. RSVP here.
About this week’s photo
If you’ve seen our newsletter posts on social media, you might have noticed that we include a photo or graphic with each issue.
Today’s graphic is a photo of a San Francisco ballot drop box.
Keep Fighting,
If you’d like to support our all-volunteer team:
