NCJW Weekly Advocacy Wrap-Up:

Friday, October 13, 2022

In this issue...

This weekend: LBCC Food Drive at the AJCC 

Ballots Have Been Mailed: Everything You Need to Know

Vote Forward:  Write More Letters

CLUE: Postcards & LB Mayoral Forum

Reproductive Freedom is on the Ballot: Phone Banks

Supreme Court Discussion with Dahlia Lithwick, October 19

Yes on 1: Webinar October 20 & Text Banking October 21 

Abortion After-Care Kits Donation Drop-off November 5 & 6

Winter Coat Drive November 10-13

LBCC Food Drive

Saturday and Sunday, October 15 & 16

10 am - 2 pm, in front of Alpert JCC

In honor of Sukkot, let’s share our harvest bounty with those less fortunate!  We are collecting packaged food for needy college students who are coming back to school at LBCC.

If you can volunteer for a 2-hour shift, please call us at (657) 235-2511 or email at communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org.

Requested Donation Food Items (no glass please)

Ballots Have Been Mailed:

Everything You Need to Know

Where’s my ballot?

Every active registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail. If you haven’t yet received yours and want to know where yours is, sign up for the state’s free ballot-tracking service.

How can I know if I’m registered to vote?

Check here. If you’re not registered within 14 days of an election in California (October 25), you can also register the day of the vote. You can learn more about same-day voter registration here.

When is the election?

Officially, the election is Nov. 8, but California’s universal vote-by-mail system means that voting essentially begins once ballots go out. You can return your ballot via

Mail:

• Every vote-by-mail ballot comes with a first-class prepaid postage return envelope. 
• Before returning your ballot, you must remember to sign and date the return envelope provided with your vote-by-mail ballot. 
• Ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked on or before November 8, 2022, Election Day, and received by county elections officials no later than 7 days after the election.

Secure Drop Boxes:

• Both Los Angeles and Orange Counties offer secure drop boxes to return vote-by-mail ballots. You can drop off your ballot at any polling place, vote center, or your county elections office through Election Day. Find drop box locations at sos.ca.gov 

 In-Person

• Voting locations will offer voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance. One or more voting locations in many counties will be open prior to Election Day. Voters can find a nearby drop box or early voting location at sos.ca.gov

What’s on my ballot?

The Voter Information Guide from the State of California can help you make decisions about the candidates and issues on the statewide ballot for the November 8, 2022, General Election. In addition to information about how to cast your ballot, this guide includes statewide candidate statements, information about state propositions, and your rights as a California voter. 

For more local information, in Orange County, you should have received a Voter Information Guide. This helpful guide covers all the must-know information on the different ways to cast your ballot, the contests and measures that you can vote on, and much more. You can access an online version at ocvote.gov/vig.

The City of Long Beach is also providing voter information here.

How can I check to see whether my ballot was counted?

You can track when your vote-by-mail ballot is mailed, received and counted at california.ballottrax.net/voter.

Vote Forward: Write More Letters

We’re only a couple of weeks away from The Big Send mail date—Saturday, October 29—so now’s the time to write letters to voters!

Can you take an hour today to write letters to 20 more voters? Or, just 20 minutes to write to five?

If you have already participated in Vote Forward, log in at https://votefwd.org and pick a “social” campaign marked with an "S".; print out your letters and addresses and mail them on October 29. 

If you have not participated in Vote Forward but would like to do so, please email advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org and we will get you set up.

CLUE: Postcards & LB Mayoral Forum

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) is doing a postcard campaign in this election to help turn out voters in the city districts that have lower turnout rates. 

This primary election is significant for our city because our families and the most vulnerable in the city will be impacted by whoever will be in the office. As people of faith, we are called to use all of our power, including voting power, faithfully to advocate for just leaders and policies in society. 

If you, your congregation, friends' group would like to write postcards for GOTV (Get out the Vote), please write to marytaduong@gmail.com  so she can deliver the needed materials for you. 

CLUE is also hosting a Long Beach Mayoral Candidate Forum on Sunday, Oct. 16, 4 -5 pm; in person at Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, 5450 E. Atherton St., Long Beach and virtually, click here for more information.

Reproductive Freedom

is on the Ballot in November!

Phone banks are a great way to Get Out the Vote (GOTV) and advance abortion access. Join NCJW to defeat a harmful anti-abortion ballot initiative in Kentucky and pass a pro-abortion ballot initiative in Michigan. Commit to joining at least one phone bank this fall!

Tuesdays and Wednesdays until the Election

Tuesdays: October 18, 25

and November 1, 2:45-5:30pm PT

Wednesdays: October 19, 26

and November 2, 1:45-3pm PT

Sponsored by:

National Council of Jewish Women,

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, 

the Reform Movement's Every Voice, Every Vote Campaign,

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America,

 and the Jewish Abortion Access Coalition

Supreme Court 2022-23 Term Discussion

Wednesday, October 19

9am, Zoom

Please join NCJW for a special Supreme Court Discussion with Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate, host of the podcast Amicus, and author of the new book, “Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America.”

Please note this is a non-transferrable invitation that is only for the NCJW network and Courts Matter advocates. This event is closed to the press.

You will hear about the important civil and human rights cases on the docket this term — including affirmative action, immigration enforcement, voting rights, and more — and what we might expect from the newest Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Yes on 1: Webinar

October 20 & Text Banking October 21

NCJW CA is partnering with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Bay Area in programming in support of Prop 1 which will enshrine the right to abortion and contraception in the CA constitution from a religious freedom perspective. 

Join JCRC in conversation with State and National experts on the topic of religious freedom and abortion rights. October 20, 2022.And ACT on Friday October 21 by joining  an afternoon of text banking to get the word out for Yes on Prop. 1.

What a terrific opportunity to put our values about abortion access into action. For more information on either the conversation or text banking, click here.

Abortion After-Care Kits

Saturday and Sunday, November 5 & 6

10 am - 2 pm, in front of Alpert JCC

Help NCJW gather the supplies for Abortion After-Care Kits which we'll donate to Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties for their clients. These little bags contain comfort items given to patients after a procedure.

Donate supplies for Abortion After-Care Kits by either dropping off any of the listed items below or by donating $7, $14, or $21 to the Abortion Access Fund ($7 covers the cost of one kit) . You can also donate gift cards or cash. 

In addition, if you would like to volunteer for a 2-hour shift or you would like more information on this event, please email communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org or call (657) 235-2511.

WINTER COAT DRIVE

Any size, and blankets or caps too!

Thursday, November 10, 11 am to 2 pm,

Friday – Sunday, November 11-13, 10 am to 2 pm

In front of the Alpert JCC

Bring ‘em one and all! 

Our past record was 300+ coats, but that was during COVID when everyone was cleaning their closets! Surely you have some items that don’t fit, you just don’t like anymore, or you keep planning to wear and never do. Bring ‘em! Last year’s drive supported needy seniors, kids at low-income elementary schools, homeless, vets, and low-income families. Any gender, any size, but only warm outer items please.

Please contact communityservice@ncjwlongbeach.org if you can volunteer for a

2-hour shift.

Questions about anything you have read or related to our Section’s advocacy? Email advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org.