How to Be Prepared for the Upcoming Election
Super Pollutant Control in Spotlight
You Can Make a Difference
Rev Up EVs
Thanks for the Action!
How to Be Prepared for the Upcoming Election
By Kyle Jones
In about a month—on June 7, to be exact—one of the most interesting primary elections in a while will take place in California. To help you make sure you have the information you need to register and get to the polls, we offer this quick primer.
Recent reforms to California’s voting laws have created a process that may be unfamiliar to some voters. In California, we have an open primary for most elections. In this process, all candidates, regardless of party preference, are listed on a ballot. The top two candidates that receive votes will advance to the general election.
No matter which district you live in, you’ll be able to vote in a race to determine who will be representing your area in the California Assembly. Those races occur every two years. However, only about half the senate districts in the state will have elections this year because state senators are elected for four years at a time, and elections are staggered. All of the legislative primaries are open.
For the presidential race—and the June primary is also a presidential primary--the process is a little different. Only registered Republicans can participate in the Republican primary election for president. For the Democrats, either registered Democrats or voters who have not stated a preference can participate in the Democratic primary election for president.
The California Primary is June 7, so there is plenty of time to register and research all the candidates before the primary. Information on presidential and U.S. Senate candidates and their official statements can be found at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/june-7-2016-presidential-primary-election/. Sierra Club endorsements for state legislative offices can be found at http://www.sierraclub.org/california/2016-endorsements.
Voter registration can be completed online at http://registertovote.ca.gov/ or by picking up a paper form at a county elections office, the DMV, a post office, or your local library. The deadline to register is May 23 for the Primary. If you have never registered to vote or you have moved to a new permanent address since the last time you voted, you need to register to participate in June’s election. Under certain circumstances, if you haven’t voted in a recent election, you may also need to re-register. For complete voter registration information, go here: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration.
One word of caution about registration for those who wish to remain independent and not be affiliated with a particular party. An independent voter must select “decline to state a party” on the registration form instead of selecting a political party. There is a party in California that is called the American Independent Party, which can be confusing. Selecting this option will prevent a voter from otherwise participating in the Democratic presidential primary.
You can vote in person at a designated polling place on June 7 or you can vote by mail. The last day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot for the June election is May 31. For more information about how to sign up to vote by mail for this election or permanently, go to the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail/.
Once you have a vote-by-mail ballot, and have filled it in, you can mail it, drop it off at the county registrar of voters, or drop it off at your polling place. If you hand deliver it yourself, the registrar of voters must have your ballot in hand by the close of the polls on June 7. If you mail it in, the ballot must be postmarked by June 7 and it must arrive at the registrar of voters by June 10, so leave plenty of time for the mail to get processed and delivered if you use postal delivery of your ballot.
No matter how you deliver your ballot, do your part to keep California an environmental leader: Vote!
Super Pollutant Control in Spotlight
By Diana Vazquez
California is taking the lead again—this time on a category of pollutants called “short-lived climate pollutants” or “super pollutants.”
These pollutants include black carbon (soot from fires and diesel engines), methane (CH4) and fluorinated gases (F-Gases). They affect public health and the environment, contributing to both ground-level conventional air pollution and atmospheric climate pollution.
One of the characteristics that makes containing these pollutants so essential to addressing climate change is that they have a much larger climate impact than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period.
Methane, for instance, is anywhere from 23 to more than 100 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to changing climate. However, methane stays in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time. Some scientists—including climate change pioneer James Hansen—argue that more attention should be given to controlling these pollutants to essentially “buy time” in the effort to reduce climate change impacts.
Additionally, some short-lived climate pollutants—including black carbon or soot—are among the most health-threatening ground-level air pollutants. This is particularly relevant in a state where air pollution costs billions annually in health impacts, contributes to more than 7,000 premature deaths per year, and disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is currently conducting public workshops to discuss how to reduce super pollutant emissions. The agency has produced a Short Lived Climate Pollutants Reduction Strategy (Proposed Strategy), released for public review on April 11, 2016.
The proposed strategy outlines a plan and implementation strategies on how to cut super pollutant emissions, with specific targets to reduce black carbon by 50%, methane by 40% and fluorinated gases (F-gases) by 40% by 2030.
At the legislature, Senator Ricardo Lara has introduced Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) this legislative year to codify these targets into law. That bill is supported by Sierra Club and is currently working its way through the Senate process.
If you want to ensure that California continues its drive to reduce super pollutants, please call or email your Senator today and urge them to vote “Yes” on SB 1383. You can identify who your state Senator is by clicking here.
By Meg Gunderson
Volunteers can make a really big difference and help an organization get even more done.
Sierra Club California needs volunteers like you, who are passionate about protecting California's environment. And we have a couple of specific opportunities available now.
Graphic Designer: Help design and coordinate look for publications, both printed and online, to help us inform activists for clean air, open spaces, fresh water, and a sustainable future. We’re looking for someone who is creative, a strong communicator, collaborative, flexible, and self-directed. This can be a short-term, one-time project or a longer term project—your choice, depending on how much time you want to give. If you have the appropriate software on your computer (Windows Publisher), the work can be done remotely. You can also come into our Sacramento office to do the work.
Partier: Well, actually, we need a House Party Details Assistant, someone who enjoys putting on parties. We need help putting on enjoyable events where attendees hear about the latest environmental issues at the state Capitol and how they impact our energy, air, water, and natural areas. These occur at various times throughout the year in various locations statewide and would require your attention for approximately six to eight weeks to work with the house party host and fundraising team to deliver invitations and follow-up with potential attendees and assist with party preparations. We need someone who is personable and detail-oriented; event planning experience is a plus. Most of the work can be done on a computer or phone.
If either of these opportunities appeal to you, please connect to the Volunteer page on our website.
Perhaps you have some other skills or interests, or you want to work in the field, or with your local chapter. Check out this newly established Sierra Club-wide source: Volunteer Connection.
The goal of the new site is to connect volunteers with all kinds of Sierra Club opportunities. From communications to campaigning, and education to leadership, Volunteer Connection collects opportunities from around the country.
There is a Sierra Club entity that needs you.
Sign up to participate in the Club's campaign to see how well EVs are sold at local car dealerships. Learn more by clicking here.
Thanks to all the Sierra Club activists who reached out to Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez about his bill, AB 2356, which would have weakened CEQA protections. Assemblymember Gomez decided to not go forward with the CEQA changes. Join us in thanking Mr. Gomez by sending a thank-you note to:
Asm. Jimmy Gomez
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
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