Take Action to Protect Reproductive Choice for All

 SCA10 (Atkins) enshrines reproductive choice in California’s Constitution. The state legislation affirms that abortion and contraception are healthcare and must remain a private medical decision. As Constitutional Amendment 10 it now goes to a vote.

• Vote ‘yes’ to ratify Senate Constitutional Amendment 10 on November 8, 2022.

LWV California recommends passage of SB 1375 (Atkins) which would allow thousands of experienced California nurse practitioners to provide first-trimester abortion care, a critically needed healthcare service. Passed out of Senate and needs vote in Assembly.

• Contact Assemblymember Marc Berman to urge swift action on SB 1375.
• For more details: https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20212022/SB1375/

The estimate is that California will see a three thousand percent increase of people traveling to the state for abortions. And, over 40 percent of counties in California do not have clinics that provide abortions. A lack of available reproductive health service providers impacts the health and choices Black, Brown, and low-income communities.

LWV Response on SCOTUS Guns Decision

The US Supreme Court struck down (June 23, 2022) as unconstitutional a New York law requiring demonstration of a need for carrying a handgun in public. States can prohibit gun-carrying in a narrow group of “sensitive places,” including polling places.

Deborah Ann Turner, president of LWVUS said, “…With such ill-defined protections for polling places, the League of Women Voters is highly concerned about the effect on voters casting their ballots in the months ahead.”

The US Senate passed bipartisan gun safety legislation on June 24, 2022. LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase Solomón stated: "…This bipartisan agreement, which would be the most historic gun safety measure in the last thirty years, is a step in the right direction and will save lives.”

In California the law requires permit-seekers to show "good cause." Attorney General Rob Bonta recognized that provision no longer constitutional. Revised legislation will hew to the Supreme Courts' guidance on who can be denied a concealed carry permit and where concealed weapons can be banned, such as polling places.

• Contact CA Senator Josh Becker and Assemblymember Marc Berman to support any future proposed bill.

Counter Voter Suppression - Write Postcards

 This September, LWVLAMV will partner with Reclaim Our Vote to write non-partisan postcards to voters in states with 20% or more voters of colorandthat make voting harder. With campaigns in nine states before November’s General Election, postcards will let voters know that their vote counts and to check with their county registrar to make sure their registration is still active.

 Why partner with Reclaim Our Vote ? They are non-partisan. Postcards are the first step. They follow up with phone calls and knocking on doors. In 2020, cards and follow up reached 174,000 Georgia voters. Over 70% voted!

 We will purchase the post cards for packets. Packets will include complete instructions, 20 cards, a matching number of addresses, registrar stickers and postcard stamps. We will schedule backyard small postcard writing parties to add some fun.

 For complete information and/or to volunteer, contact karin.bricker@gmail.comwith the details requested:

• Name 
• E-Mail
• Telephone number
• Number of 20 card packets 
• Yes, I’ll come to a postcard party (TBA)

 Would like to help, but no time? Donate to the League to offset the cost. $10.00 will cover a 20-card packet. Login or create your account at lwvlamv.org . Donate and indicate that it is “In Recognition” of Reclaim our Vote.

 Hope to hear from you,

 Karin Bricker, President LWVLAMV Area

Pat Lang, Reclaim Our Vote Coordinator