Welcome to the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City

NEW VOTERS' HANDBOOK
BY
THE MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK COMMITTEE OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FREMONT, NEWARK, AND UNION CITY IN COOPERATION WITH A ROUNDTABLE OF COMMUNITY GROUP REPRESENTATIVES

CAN YOU VOTE?
Yes,
if you are 18 years old or older

if you are a United States Citizen by birth or naturalization

if you are registered to vote at least 29 days before an election

No,
if you are in jail or on parole for a felony conviction
if you have been declared incompetent by a court


HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE Your government makes it very easy to register.
You can find registration "postcard" forms at:
The Department of Motor Vehicles
city government buildings
city clerk's office
County Registrar of Voters
any fire station
schools
banks
post offices
libraries
(A nice thing about the postcard is that you don't have to put a stamp on it.)

The form is easy to fill out.


When you fill out your registration form, you will be asked to choose a political party, or you may decline to state. "Decline to state" means that you do not want to choose a political party. You will be able to vote in all elections whether or not you choose a political party.

You do not have to register again unless you move, change your name. or change your political party.

CALIFORNIA'S POLITICAL PARTIES:

AMERICAN INDEPENDENT
The American Independent Party stands for traditional moral values and the God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
This party believes that government should stick to what is defined by the Constitution, including protecting life and property. They want fewer regulations, lower spending and taxes, and strong defense.

DEMOCRAT
The Democratic Party stands for the average American who wants opportunities to buy a home, a better education, safe streets and better paying jobs. This party believes the role of government should be to provide safe streets, good schools, protect the environment and expand job opportunities.

GREEN
The Green Party stands for ten key values: protecting the environment, democracy, fairness, non-violence, making government more local, equality, respect for diversity, responsibility, community-based economics and future focus. This party believes the role of government is to support these values.

LIBERTARIAN
The Libertarian Party stands for personal freedom, property rights and strict limits on government power. This party believes that the role of government should be to protect and defend each person's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

NATURAL LAW
The Natural Law Party stands for government that will solve today's problems and prevent future problems before they start. This party believes government should be based in common sense and promote programs that will pay for themselves. It should promote a happier, healthier, more successful future for all Americans.

PEACE AND FREEDOM
The Peace and Freedom Party stands for democracy, cooperation and sharing. They want to organize and educate the public to work together to meet human needs. This party believes the role of government should be to make sure that everyone has jobs, housing, education and equal rights.

REFORM
The Reform Party stands for the economic growth and political reforms necessary to restore the American Dream for all Americans. This party believes the role of government should be to respond to the will of the people and to protect their interests.

REPUBLICAN
The Republican Party stands for reducing government to help all Americans lead more productive lives. They want lower taxes, less government spending and fewer regulations. This party believes government should only do those things that individuals cannot do for themselves. More control of government should be given to local communities.

*This information on Political Parties was prepared by the Santa Clara Library Key to Community Voter Involvement Project. What each party stands for is in the parties' own words.

VOTING

Once you are registered, you will be able to vote. Before an election, you will be sent a Voter Information Pamphlet that includes a sample ballot.

The front cover of the Voter Information Pamphlet tells you what the election is for and the date of the election. The second page gives you voting instructions. It shows you exactly how to punch in your choices. It tells you that if you make a mistake, you can return your ballot card and get another one.

Then it will give you information about all the measures and the candidates. It gives you arguments in favor and against measures and statements from each of the candidates.

On the back page the pamphlet gives you the exact address where you must go to vote.

Toward the back, you will find an application to vote absentee. If you choose to vote absentee, you fill in the blanks, sign the form and mail it. You have to be sure you sign your application. If you don't, they will send it back to you.

In a short time, you will receive your ballot along with a little tool to punch out your choices. You must be sure to punch your choices all the way out or that vote will not be counted. When you finish voting, mail it in the envelope that came with your ballot.

Some people think that you have to be out of town or disabled to vote absentee. This is not true. Anyone who wants to can vote this way.


WHY VOTE?
People sometimes say that voting is a civic duty. True enough, but there are other reasons to vote. It is in our own self-interest. We try to vote for candidates and measures that will do us and others some good, in our opinion. For example, if we want clean air or water, we vote for a candidate or a measure that promotes a clean environment. If we want lower taxes, we vote for candidates or measures that offer a good way to lower taxes.

INFORMED VOTING
It is important to be informed about what you are voting for. There are many ways to get informed:
Reading the newspaper
Reading political ads
Watching television
Going to candidate forums and pro and con meetings about propositions
Talking to friends
Reading the League of Women Voters' "Pros and Cons"
Reading your Voter Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet

You do not have to vote on everything on your ballot. It makes sense to vote for or against those candidates or measures that you know about.

HOW TO CHOOSE A CANDIDATE
With all the campaign slogans we hear and images we see, it becomes hard to find out the facts. Here are some suggestions to help you choose:

When you see or hear TV or radio messages, get direct mail or are handed flyers or pamphlets, ask yourself, "Did I find out anything about issues or qualifications or did I just hear or see emotional appeals?"

There are some tactics used by politicians to distort the facts.

Name calling is one of these tactics. Examples are "wishy-washy", "two faced", "liberal" or "right wing". Don't be fooled by name calling, especially if it is about race, gender, or things about a candidate's personal life that don't make any difference in his/her abilities.

Another tactic is starting rumors. "Although everyone knows that he is a crook, I have no personal knowledge of it." is an example.

Guilt by association, another dirty tactic, judges a candidate by his/her friends. Such statements as "The union has him/her in its pocket." are misleading.

Catchwords like "Law and Order" and "The American Way" tell us nothing.

Other tactics to watch for are passing all the blame for a problem on an opponent, promising the sky, and evading the real issues.

Think twice about a candidate who uses these tactics. Judge the candidates by their words and deeds.

So, think about what issues are important to you. Perhaps these are some of them: the economy, the environment, government spending, foreign policy or social services. Find out how each candidate stands on the issues that are important to you. Ask questions, read articles, read ads, talk to friends and then choose.

When you have chosen, VOTE!

WHO REPRESENTS YOU?

On election day, you will have the opportunity to vote on some of these candidates for:

City:
(Note: City, County, School Board and Special District offices are nonpartisan. Nonpartisan means that the candidates are not representing any political party.)

Mayor:
He/She is a member of the City Council. He/She presides at council meetings and presides over city ceremonies.


City Council
The city council makes laws for the city. It regulates such things as city parks, police and fire departments and other city services

Board of Education
The board of education regulates the schools. It sets graduation requirements, makes policy, hires the superintendent of schools, and sees to the maintenance of schools.

County

County Board of Supervisors (You vote for only one.) County Supervisors implement state laws regarding voter registration, health and welfare programs, courts, and law enforcement. They also make decisions on such issues as county roads.

County Superintendent of Schools
The County Superintendent of Schools runs the county office of education. County Offices of Education operate educational programs for special groups and provide support services to local school districts.


From time to time, you will be asked to vote for representatives on Special Boards.

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit)

Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)

Alameda County Water District
South County Community College
District 9 (Chabot)

East Bay Regional Park District

Fremont-Newark Community College District (Ohlone)

Union Sanitary District

Washington Township Hospital District

You only have to look at these special district titles to realize how important they are to you. They regulate transportation, water and air quality, community colleges, a hospital, and even how our sewage is treated.

State

Governor
The Governor is the chief executive of the state and the commander - in -chief of the state militia. The Governor develops a budget and signs or vetoes bills passed by the legislature. He/She nominates judges and appoints many department heads. The Governor is the leader of his/her political party and ceremonial head of state.

State Assembly (you vote for only one)

State Senate (you vote for only one)
The State Assembly and the State Senate together are called the "Legislature". The Legislature makes the laws for the state.

Lieutenant Governor.
He/She takes the place of the governor when the governor is absent or becomes unable to govern.

Secretary of State
He/She oversees elections and keeps records for the state.


State Controller
He/She is the accountant and the bookkeeper for the state.

State Treasurer
He/She is the banker for the state.

Attorney General
He/She is the chief law enforcement officer and legal advisor of the state.

Insurance Commissioner
He/She is responsible for protecting California's insurance consumers.

Board of Equalization
This board makes sure that property is assessed uniformly for tax purposes.

Superintendent of Public Instruction
He/She directs the State Department of Education. This is a non- partisan office.


National
President of the United States.
He/She is the chief executive of the nation and the Commander-in-Chief of the military services.

U.S.House of Representatives (You vote for only one)

United States Senate (you vote for only one)
The U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate together are called "Congress". Congress makes the laws for the nation.

So? How important is it that you vote? It is up to YOU to decide. If you want to have a say in the way government is run, then register and vote!