LWVDV applied for and received a $2,500 grant  from the Contra Costa County Elections Office to develop, produce and distribute two-sided 4x6 postcards in Spanish to get out the vote. With the help of Shawn Gilbert (who connected us with Doug Lezamata, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), Brooke Schwartz (who did all the graphic art work), Genoveva Calloway of LWV West Contra Costa County (who coordinated the Spanish verbiage and art work with Voto Latino), and Ana Pan (who helped the ad hoc committee with the verbiage and visuals), we were able to develop, produce and distribute these postcards to Spanish-speaking voters.

In September, 1,000 cards were distributed at the Fiestas Patrias Parade in Richmond, the Latina Center, Familias Unidas, Downer Elementary School, a Raza History class, Monument Impact, Festival Latino in Concord, Los Medanos College, Support for Recovery, NAMI, Hope Solutions, and even a Hispanic grocery store. The reception to these postcards was very positive.

One side  of the card focuses on registering to vote and why it is important; the other gives information on misinformation and lists websites to check whether information is credible. Another 1,000 postcards have been printed and will be distributed the week of September 30th.

We are working on another postcard that will be distributed when ballots are mailed. One side will focus on voter resources for Spanish speaking voters and the other will encourage them to vote because of issues that impact their families. We will also develop the postcards in English for social media use. The Elections Office has expressed interest in sharing them for social media use with the nine Bay Area elections offices. We will also share the postcard images with LWVC so other Leagues can use them with their communities.

Diane Bianchi, Ad-Hoc Committee Co-Leader