Secretary of State Alex Padilla Appointed as Chair of the California Complete Count Committee
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Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Secretary of State Alex Padilla as chair of the California Complete Count Committee. Secretary Padilla will lead the committee's efforts to ensure a complete and accurate count of the 2020 Census.
"As chair of the Complete Count Committee, I'm calling for all hands on deck for the 2020 census," said Secretary Padilla. "The 2020 Census will help define California for the next decade. Our voice in Congress and presidential elections is on the line. Billions of dollars - for our schools, roads, and health services - are on the line. Participating in the census directly matters for our communities."
Notable Coverage:
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Two More Counties Adopt Voter's Choice Act for 2020 Elections
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The County Board of Supervisors for the counties of
Santa Clara
and
El Dorado
have unanimously voted to adopt the
Voter’s Choice Act
for the 2020 elections. Under this modern election model, every registered voter in the county will automatically receive their ballot by mail and have options for how to return their ballot; by mail, to any ballot drop box in the county, or at any vote center in the county convenient to them.
“In 2020, nearly half of California voters will enjoy more options for when, where, and how to cast their ballots through the Voter’s Choice Act,” said Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
“Through the Voter’s Choice Act, counties from north to south will be moving to a more voter centric, community driven model of conducting elections. Mailing every voter a ballot, expanding early voting, and improving access to services such as ‘Same-Day’ voter registration and accessible voting machines will empower more citizens to participate in our democracy.”
There are now eleven counties implementing the Voter's Choice Act: El Dorado, Santa Clara, Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Orange, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento and San Mateo. These counties are home to 49.4 percent of the state’s voters.
Notable Coverage:
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Secretary Padilla Promotes Youth Civic Engagement, Pre-Registration During High School Voter Education Weeks
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As part of
High School Voter Education Weeks
, S
ecretary Padilla visited high schools across California to promote voter registration, and to remind students of the important role they can play in shaping the future through civic participation. Secretary Padilla encouraged all eligible 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. Once pre-registered, their registration automatically activates when they turn 18
Students, teachers, and administrators can visit
HighSchool.sos.ca.gov
for resources to get young people involved in the democratic process.
Here are some highlights from the Secretary's visits:
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On Earth Day, California Voters Can Reduce Their Carbon Footprint by Opting-Out of Paper Voter Information Guides
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For Earth Day this year, Secretary Padilla reminded California voters that they can reduce their paper consumption and carbon footprint by organizing their household to opt-out of receiving paper voter information guides.
“Opting to receive your voter information guides via email can be done online in a matter of minutes by logging onto
VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov
,"
said Secretary Padilla. "Instead of a printed guide in the mail, you will receive an email with links to our voter information guide website, which is easy to navigate, mobile friendly, and translated into 10 different languages."
One voter information guide is sent per household, so every registered voter in the household must opt-out in order to avoid receiving the paper guide. Registered California voters can change their status by logging into
VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov
and updating their voter information guide preferences.
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CA State Archives Releases ‘California Witch Hunt,’ a new 3-Part Digital Exhibit Focusing on the CA Un-American Activities Committee
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The California State Archives has released
'California Witch Hunt,'
a new three-part digital exhibit that focuses on Jack Tenney, chairman of the California Un-American Activities Committee (CUAC) from 1941-1949. During his term, Tenney used an extensive network of individuals and organizations to investigate thousands of Californians he believed to be subversive, including some of America's most famous directors, musicians, architects, labor leaders and actors of the day.
The exhibit includes scores of photographs, letters, reports and formerly secret documents that are now available through the State Archives. The State Archives collaborated with the Los Angeles Public Library and other sources to provide a more complete picture of the committee's activities. This State Archives exhibit is the latest to be hosted online in partnership with Google Arts and Culture.
Former Chief Deputy Secretary of State Bill Mabie conducted the research necessary—combing through formerly disparate archival records—to bring the ‘California Witch Hunt’ exhibit to life.
“The committee operated in the shadows for years, it spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it ruined the careers and lives of many California citizens—yet no one targeted by the committee was ever convicted of subversion,” Secretary Padilla said. “California Witch Hunt’ is a stark reminder of what happens when power goes unchecked. I imagine most Californians are largely unaware of the California Un-American Activities Committee.”
View the three-part digital exhibit here:
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Secretary Padilla Publishes Reports on Conditional Voter Registration and Provisional Ballot Use in November 2018 General Election
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This month, Secretary of State Alex Padilla published reports on the use of conditional voter registration and provisional ballots in the November 2018 Statewide General Election.
Highlights:
- 57,275 Californians took advantage of Conditional Voter Registration, our version of ‘Same-Day’ Voter registration.
- 91.7 percent of provisional ballots cast were counted after each was processed and verified by county elections officials.
“2018 saw the implementation of two major election reforms to better help Californians exercise their voting rights—the Voter’s Choice Act and ‘Same-Day’ Voter Registration for citizens who missed the registration deadline,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “Over 57,000 Californians who would have otherwise missed participating in our democracy, were able to register and cast their ballots through the ‘Same-Day’ voter registration process. And ‘Same Day’ voter registration was particularly popular in counties that adopted the Voter’s Choice Act. When citizens have more options to register and vote, democracy wins.”
“This report also dispels the myth that provisional ballots are either thrown out largely rejected by county elections officials. Over 91 percent of provisional ballots—an important safety net for voters—were counted after being carefully processed by elections officials,” Padilla added.
View the published reports here:
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Senate District 1 & Senate District 33
Special Primary Election Results Certified
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County elections officials have certified the results of the March 26, 2019 Senate District 1 and Senate District 33 Special Primary Elections. The top two vote getters, for each district, who now move on to the June 4, 2019 Special General Election, are as follows:
Senate District 1
Brian D. Dahle, Republican Party
Kevin Kiley, Republican Party
Senate District 33
Lena Gonzalez, Democratic Party
Jack M. Guerrero, Republican Party
View the final official results here:
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Secretary of State's Safe at Home Program Participates in Denim Day Activities to Recognize Sexual Violence Awareness Month
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The Secretary of State's
Safe at Home Program
participated in Denim Day activities at the state capitol to recognize April as Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Held annually, Denim Day encourages the wearing of denim jeans to raise awareness about sexual harassment and sexual violence.
“Denim Day and Sexual Violence Awareness Month are important reminders that help is out there for victims and survivors of sexual violence,” Secretary Padilla said. “I, and the entire Secretary of State team, stand in solidarity with all of those who have suffered sexual violence. The Secretary of State’s Safe at Home program can provide confidential addresses that can help victims re-establish their lives with peace of mind. Survivors deserve the dignity and access to government services that are afforded to every Californian.”
Safe at Home
is an address confidentiality program administered from the office of the Secretary of State and provides a substitute mailing address for victims and survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, and elder/dependent adult abuse.
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bizfile California: Making Business Easier in California
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The Business Programs Division of the Secretary of State's office works every day to make doing business California easier and more accessible. We've created a video highlighting our newest online bizfile expansion, LLC terminations.
Tools available through bizfile California:
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