During a time when protecting our right to vote – free of interference – is crucial, California’s Secretary of State Shirley Nash Weber, Ph.D., is urging everyone eligible to exercise their precious right.
Too often, voting is taken for granted, forgetting the sacrifices, protests, and hard-fought struggle that it took to give all Americans, including people of color and women, a voice at the ballot box. People literally gave their lives.
“It’s a privilege to be able to register and to vote in California and anywhere that you live,” said Weber. “I’ve been all around the world, and I have seen the excitement that happens in countries when they get the chance to vote.”
During a news briefing with American Community Media (ACoM), Weber shared being witness to seeing people spending all day and all night standing in long, hot lines just to cast their vote.
“I’ve seen that in South Africa. I’ve seen it in other countries, and it’s really quite exciting to see the enthusiasm that people have about making their voices heard.”
Dr. Weber is California’s first Black Secretary of State and only the fifth African American to serve as a state constitutional officer in California’s 175-year history. She was nominated to serve as California Secretary of State by Governor Gavin Newsom on December 22, 2020, and sworn into office on January 29, 2021. Voters elected her for a full term on November 8, 2022.
“Fortunately, in California, we don’t make you stand in long hot lines because we have [the convenience to] vote by mail, and every registered voter in California gets a ballot in the mail, which means you don’t have to stand in very long lines.
You can vote by mail, put your ballot in a drop box or go to a polling location. In-person polling locations opened on October 24 and are available to those who want to cast their vote before election day.
In California, voters are given 11 days prior to election day to submit their ballots.
“That gives you the opportunity to read your ballot, to know where to go to take your ballot, so that you’re not rushed and you can get it done.” She recommends taking advantage of the time and voting early so that you don’t have to figure out where to go at the last minute.
The extra time helps you look into the issues and confidently cast your vote.
If you missed the window to register, you can still vote on election day to cast a provisional ballot that will cross-check your eligibility to vote.
“If you are a U.S. citizen and a resident of California, and 18 years old or older, on election day, you are eligible to vote in California”, Weber emphasized.
In some states, you cannot vote if you actually committed a crime.
“California is not that state,” said Weber. “California allows every person who is a citizen in California who’s a resident of California and who’s not serving in a state or federal prison for the conviction of a felony to be able to vote,” she emphasized.
Once you have served your time, you are eligible to vote in the state of California.
The upcoming election has caused many to be nervous about President Trump’s attack on California and his reported claims of voter fraud and threats to place federal agents outside polling places. Weber responded frankly to the President’s statements.
“Well, this president is misinforming the public. For the last six years, after the declaration of ‘quote unquote’ that there were fraudulent things occurring, there has been no data, no evidence that that has occurred anywhere in California or the United States. The courts have ruled that there has been no major fraud and deception in California or the other states,” said Weber.
“Research centers like the Brannan Institute have been looking at this for 10 – 15 years. There is no major fraud or deception in California, and we hear that time and time again. And yet, there is no evidence.”
For those naturalized citizens who might be concerned or afraid due to rumors of ICE presence at polling stations, Weber suggested they take advantage of the drop-off voting boxes or voting by mail to ease their fear of in-person voting.
“Those huge monstrous boxes that we have that are made of steel…and it’s not likely that you’re going to find ICE at a place like that and you can pop in and out. Those are the most secure voting systems we have. They’re more secure than our post office.”
If ICE agents were to show up at polling places, Weber said there are new regulations that limit how close they can come to a polling place. Intimidation tactics to have people in uniforms placed near polling places are not acceptable.
“We are doing what we can to protect our citizens from that, and we are working to make sure that those who are working the polls, as well as the law enforcement agencies and others, basically protect our citizens as they come to the polling places.”
Similarly Weber addressed the need to protect people working the polls.
“When I came into office, we assured our poll workers that we would not allow them to be abused and misused by anyone, and that we would use the full force of the attorney general’s office and others to make sure that anyone who makes an attempt to attack or assault a poll worker will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Weber said.
“It will not be just boys’ will be boys’ conversation; this is a criminal act that’s occurring, and we will defend our poll workers. We’ve had about 20 pieces of legislation this past election season that have addressed areas of safety.”
Weber made clear what is at stake in allowing any threat to our right to vote.
“If the people lose confidence in the system and feel that they’re going to be hurt and harmed by participating in the system, then we really have lost the essence of what this democracy is about.”
You can vote from now to November 2 from 10 AM – 7 PM and on Election Day, November 3 from 7 AM – 8 PM.
To find a voting location go to: sos.ca.gov
