Ventura County
Ventura County
In case you missed it - This short documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at a politically
diverse group of election officials who, despite facing increased threats, harassment and intimidation, remain committed to serving their communities by running secure elections and ensuring every eligible vote is counted accurately. Following the film is a panel and Q&A with the filmmakers and the League of Women Voters. Password: NgT8PAd%Scam Alert!
There has been a recent rise in scam attempts targeting members of the League of Women Voters. Please read our message on how to protect yourself, and what you can do if you've been a victim.
Some of our Upcoming Events
Friday, April 10 - 7pm Why Celebrate Earth? with Wayne Morgan, presented by Chalice Community Forum, on Zoom. Earth month gives us a reminder to appreciate our Earth and to see where we are, where we are heading, and what we can do to make our environment better. To register or to learn more, click HERE
Saturday, April 18 - 11:00am-4:00pm MERITO Foundation’s Ventura Earth Day at Plaza Park, 651 E. Thompson, Ventura - Watch for a SignUpGenius in your email closer to the event.
Wednesday, April 22 - 12:00pm-1:00pm Learn With the league - The SAVE Acts - Please join us to learn more about the SAVE Acts, who they affect, what the requirements are and what the impacts may be. To register, click HERE.
CHECK OUR FULL CALENDAR to see ALL events
POSTMARK RULE CHANGE AFFECTS YOUR BALLOT
https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ WheresMyBallot.com
ACTION ALERT:
Ask Governor Newsom to Choose Mercy
The League of Women Voters of California opposes the death penalty and supports criminal justice policies that protect human rights and reduce injustice. Governor Gavin Newsom has less than 13 months left in office. We are urging him to use his executive authority now to grant universal clemency – changing every death sentence in California to life in prison without the possibility of parole, so that no one can be executed.
Please Ask Governor Newsom to Choose Mercy - Commute All Death Sentences
Unite and Rise 8.5 consists of six phases, each with its own objective.
Phase 1 (May–July): “Shifting the Power Narrative”
Phase 2 (August - October): "Holding Power Accountable"
Phase 3 (November - January): "Building Power Through Partnerships"
Phase 4 (February-April 2026); "Deepening Electoral Power" to protect, engage, and turn out a record number of voters
How Can You Make Change?
Unite and Rise 8.5 will fight for our democracy on multiple fronts, from the courts to the streets. More actions will be outlined in the future, but as of today, here are a few you can take:
- Commit to action: Sign our commitment to Unite and Rise for democracy!
- Protect equal voting rights: Tell your representatives to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act!
- “Turn Up the Heat” on elected officials: Connect directly with your representatives on the issues that matter.
- Oppose federal interference in DC: Tell Congress to fully investigate the legality of President Trump's actions in DC and to oppose the misuse of federal authority.
- Raise your voice about illegal deportations: join mobilizations around immigrant rights and due process with organizations like the National Partnership for New Americans, United We Dream, and others.
- Act locally: Join local organizations like your state or local League to act on the issues that matter in your community.
Call to Action at last year's LWV California State Convention
On June 17-22, 2025, the League of Women Voters of California gathered for our first all virtual State Convention. It was an energizing, empowering, and urgent time. We had three very impressive speakers who laid out the moment we're in, and what we need to do. A single moment brought the (virtual) room to a standstill and sparked what may have been the first-ever Zoom standing ovation.
Dora Rose, LWVC Deputy Director and Chief Lobbyist, delivered one of the most powerful speeches we have ever heard from the League. She laid out what we are up against:
“The foundations of American democracy are under attack. Not in the abstract. Not someday. But now. Today. With military force deployed against civilians in our own backyard. We are witnessing a full-scale effort to erode the very principles that have guided this country for over two centuries. One person, one vote. Equal justice under law. Government by and for the people.”
Listen to Dora Rose's powerful speech
Listen to Professor Justin Levitt on the work required to keep our democracy
Listen to Dianna Wynn, LWVUS President, on declaring a Constitutional Crisis, and what the League is doing about it
LWV California 2025 State Convention
documentation can be found HERE
Get involved and make a difference in our community!
Your voice matters, and we offer numerous ways to participate in local democracy. Whether you're passionate about voter education, interested in candidate forums, or want to help with voter registration, we have opportunities for every skill set and schedule. By volunteering, you'll help ensure fair elections, promote civic engagement, and strengthen our democratic process. Join us to learn more about current initiatives and how you can contribute to positive change right here in our County.
Volunteer Opportunities 
- info [at] lwvventuracounty.org (subject: LWVVC%20High%20School%20Voter%20Registration%20Volunteer) (Volunteer) for voter registration of high school students
- See our Voter Newsletter for volunteer opportunities
- info [at] lwvventuracounty.org (subject: LWVVC%20Volunteer%20Question) (Contact us) with any questions
Join the LWV Observer Corps
Let our city council members and County Board of Supervisors know the League is paying attention.
Observers are asked to wear their blue League T-shirts and LWVVC "Observer" buttons so they'll know we're there. Then report your observations using this easy two-page observer form. We publish observer reports with our monthly newsletter.
Join the observer team at lwvvc.info [at] gmail.com (subject: LWVVC%20Observer%20Corps)
Ever wonder what your public officials do? How your govenrment works? Get to know your Ventura County community leaders and elected officials, and their jobs.
Our next event, the SAVE Acts, will be on Wednesday, April 22, 2025, at noon. Please REGISTER HERE to join us and learn more about the SAVE Acts currently before Congress, who they affect, what the requirements are, and what the impacts may be.
- WATCH 2024-2025 events, including: Public Defender, Voter's Choice Act; Grand Jury; City Manager; Electoral College (Learn about our "One Person, One Vote" project)
- WATCH 2023 events, including: Water and Sanitation; Superior Court; Ventura County Education; Ventura County Community Foundation, ADL on Reporting Hate Crimes
- WATCH 2022 events, including: Assessor; Sheriff; District Attorney; Clerk-Recorder/Registrar; Treasurer-Tax Collector; Auditor-Controller; County Supervisor
Helpful Hints for Difficult Conversations:
- From the ADL: Guidelines for Having Difficult Conversations
- From Right To Be: Tips for How To Intervene in a Hate Incident
How is your Civics Knowledge?
Find out with a fun game about civics and news literacy, courtesy of LWV of Alameda, CA
The 19th Amendment Explained 
It took more than a century of fighting by generations of activists to achieve suffrage for all American women. The Brennan Center for Justice explains how it all happened.
Have you thought about running for office?
On July 18th our local league collaborated with Buen Vecino and Future Leaders of America to present an educational zoom meeting to inform prospective candidates of the nuts and bolts of running for public office. This informative event is now available for viewing at Grassroots Guide to Running for Office.
Watch VC County Election Education Series
In anticipation of the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election, Michelle Ascencion, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, presented a four-part Election Education Series at the Ventura County Board of Supervisors Meetings. Ascencion covered election topics that are of interest to the Ventura County voting and candidate community. People were invited to attend in person or online. Now that the series is finished you can WATCH them all on video. This series was about the primary, but the general information applies to all our elections.
Topics include: Candidates and Campaigns - Voter Registration and Primary Election Voting - Vote Centers and Vote By Mail - Election Technology, Security, and Observation - Canvass/Certification, Recounts, and Fraud Prevention
Ranked Choice Voting - Learn about it!!
Ranked Choice Voting was explained and demonstrated by our guest speaker, Paul Copley of the CA Coalition for RCV. Learn more about Ranked Choice Voting in California (calrcv.org)
Protecting Reproductive Rights
See what is happening with Planned Parenthood California Central Coast HERE.
Curious about the real history of abortion in religion and the law? Read this excellent New Yorker article.
Defending Democracy!
See our January 6 Resolution here
BOOKS WE LIKE - From our Climate Change and other committees
- FEATURED - On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century - by Timothy Snyder
- No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air - by Mark Z. Jacobson
- Video: Drawdown Roadmap: Accelerating Climate Solutions (17 minutes)
- Video: Just Have a Think: Have we got enough minerals? (15 minutes)
- Upheaval: How Nations Cope with Crisis and Change - by Jared Diamond
- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption - by Bryan Stevenson
- See More books - and how to access them online
2021 Redistricting Explained
Chris Carson, former LWV US President, explains how and why new districts are drawn after each census.
