A Message from the Presidents

As we close another year at the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County, I find myself reflecting on what an extraordinary year it has been. Rather than revisiting the challenges facing our nation, I want to shine a light on the remarkable courage, tenacity, and energy of our local League members and volunteers. You refused to sit quietly or wring your hands at home. Instead, you stepped into the community with hope, purpose, and a deep commitment to sharing the values of voting and civic participation — the very foundation of our democracy. Read More

Lilli Duval and Claudia Bonsignore

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Spotlight

Voter 411 Use Surges in Sacramento

In the run-up to the June 2, 2026 California primary, voters across the state turned to Vote411.org, the League of Women Voters’ nonpartisan voter guide, in record numbers. Sacramento County stood out: local usage climbed significantly compared to the 2024 primary, placing our county near the third-highest gains statewide. Seven counties, including Sacramento, posted large increases, a clear sign that more voters are turning to trusted, nonpartisan sources to make sense of their ballots. 

The November 2026 general election will bring one of the most consequential ballots Sacramento County has seen in years, with a statewide voter ID measure, new congressional lines, and crowded local contests. As we look ahead, it’s worth celebrating how far we’ve already come — and the role Sacramento voters are playing in making informed participation the norm, not the exception.

If you’d like to help keep that momentum going, share Vote411.org with friends, neighbors, and community groups this fall so even more Sacramento County voters head to the polls with solid, nonpartisan information in hand.

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League in Action

LWV Sacramento Signs On to Water Forum 2050

Our local member Inga Olson has been active with the Water Forum.  She advised our board earlier this term that the agreement was to be updated.  In May our league signed on to the Water Forum 2050.  The Water forum began over 20 years ago and the LWVS signed on the original agreement. The forum is a diverse group of business and agricultural leaders, citizen groups, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments working together to balance coequal objectives: Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development through to the year 2030; and Preserve the Lower American River’s fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values. Find more information at https://waterforum.org Submitted by Claudia Bonsignore

Tabling at the Bonnie Raitt Concert

On June 6, three League members staffed a voter education table at the Bonnie Raitt concert at Channel 24. The crowd was generous, the conversations were good, and we connected with a new wave of voters heading into November. Many thanks to the volunteers who gave up their Friday evening to talk democracy with concertgoers, members Stefanie Fricano, Julia Mullen and Dawn Basciano. The following report from Dawn sums up the teams' experience. "Wonderful event and opportunity to engage with concert goers. Everyone that walked through the lobby greeted us with huge smiles, and knew of  the amazing work the League does. Love that Bonnie provides a space for organizations like the League of Women Voters to engage and learn along with community members!"

Sacramento Ethics Commission Observation

League members continue to attend and report on meetings of the Sacramento Ethics Commission as part of our local observer corps. Reports from the Commission's February and March 2026 meetings have been compiled by Charlene Jones and are available to members.. Observing local government in action remains one of the most important and most overlooked ways the League holds public bodies accountable. Submitted by Charlene Jones

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Action Opportunities

Help Sacramento Voters Rank Their Vote

Be part of making Sacramento’s elections more fair and representative by helping put party‑neutral ranked choice voting on the ballot. After nearly three years of voter education and a 30+ member coalition behind it, the charter amendment is written, petitions are printed, and all that’s missing are signatures from registered voters inside city limits before the September 14 deadline to qualify for the 2028 ballot. If you can gather signatures, help verify them from home, or connect us with groups who want a brief presentation, your effort will directly move this reform forward. To learn more, watch the 1.5‑minute explainer video and see the coalition at BetterBallotSacramento.org, or contact Paula Lee at (916) 704‑0195 or Paula.lee@comcast.net to get started.

November 2026 General Election Planning

Watch your inbox for upcoming volunteer opportunities to staff voter education tables, present at community events, and help promote Vote411.org ahead of the fall ballot.

Defeat the Voter ID Initiative

The California Voter ID initiative has officially qualified for the November 2026 ballot. LWVC is leading a statewide coalition to defeat it. Watch the LWVC newsletter for action alerts, talking points, and ways to plug in locally.

LWVC Primary Election Reform Series

LWVC is continuing its statewide series on primary reform. Visit the LWVC newsletter for the next session date and sign-up link.

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Please login to lwvsacramento.org for member-only information. Check the Calendar weekly, as new events and news from California and National League are posted regularly.

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News Reel

Sacramento PBS station to keep local shows on air after funding cuts

Sacramento’s PBS station KVIE is keeping its local shows on the air, even after losing federal public broadcasting funding. KVIE is leaning on donor reserves and stepping up community support to replace the 14% of its budget that used to come from Washington. The station says it will continue producing Sacramento‑focused programs like its public affairs and local history series, not just rely on national PBS content. Read more from CBS News.

After surprise musical disruption, Sacramento City Council approves budget

Sacramento City Council approved a budget closing a $66 million gap by cutting vacant jobs, trimming some homeless services, and raising a few fees while avoiding layoffs. A group of singing protesters briefly halted the meeting, accusing leaders of misplaced priorities. City officials say they protected core services, but the plan still reduces police positions on paper and scales back homelessness funding. Read more from The Sacramento Bee.

‘System-wide failure’, Sacramento homeless advocates call for accountability after dozens of families displaced

Sacramento homeless advocates are condemning what they call a “system‑wide failure” after 25 families lost their motel rooms when the city switched from a shelter program to vouchers that some motels wouldn’t accept. They say parents and children were left scrambling for a place to sleep, with little warning or backup plan. Advocates are demanding accountability from city officials, better oversight of motel partners, and more stable housing options so families aren’t pushed back into homelessness by policy changes. Read more from Cap Radio.

Sacramento County sheriff proposes eliminating homeless outreach team to meet county budget cuts

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office warns proposed budget cuts could eliminate its Homeless Outreach Team and other community‑focused units. Facing a $101 million shortfall, county leaders are weighing more than 190 job cuts overall, including 48 in the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s officials say losing those roles and $13.7 million from the budget could for the department to dismantle homeless outreach and specialty teams, creating a “public safety crisis” in already stressed neighborhoods. Read more from CBS News via AOL News.

Why CA’s top-two primary isn’t working the way voters intended

California’s top‑two primary was sold as a way to boost voter power and elect pragmatic candidates, but most November races still look like standard Democrat–Republican matchups. Independents, moderates, and reformers often get squeezed out in crowded primaries, and voters struggle to spot who is genuinely centrist. Campaigns have also learned to game the system, fueling new talk of tweaking, replacing, or even scrapping top‑two. Read more from CalMatters via MSN News.

Gov. Newsom Signs Election Security Bill

Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 73, a fast‑tracked election security law aimed at preventing law enforcement and federal agents from meddling in California elections. The law bans seizing ballots, voting machines, or voter rolls without a court order and makes it a crime to take ballots from officials. It also restricts officers’ presence at polling places to true emergencies, meant to reassure voters their ballots will be handled securely. Read more from LA Focus News.

California sues to block Shasta County vote-by-mail ban, hand counts mandate

California is suing Shasta County over Measure B, a new charter amendment that sharply curbs vote‑by‑mail, requires hand‑counted ballots, and adds strict voter ID rules. State officials say the measure illegally creates a one‑county system that conflicts with statewide election laws. They argue Shasta cannot end mail and early voting or run its own registration system and warn the changes risk confusing or disenfranchising voters. Read more from The Sacramento Bee.

Postal Service won’t deliver mail ballots for states that don’t hand over voter lists, under plan for Trump directive

The US Postal Service is proposing a rule that would let it refuse to deliver mail‑in ballots for states that don’t share detailed voter lists, tying ballot delivery to new federal “mail voting” data requirements. Several states and voting‑rights groups are already suing, including LWVUS, arguing USPS has no authority to pick and choose which ballots it carries. They warn the change could throw elections into chaos an make it harder for eligible voters to cast mail ballots this fall. Read more from CNN News.

DC Democratic primary for mayor results still undetermined in city's first ranked-choice election

DC’s new ranked-choice voting system got its first real test in this week’s Democratic primary, and it immediately shaped how the mayor’s race unfolded. Voters could rank up to five candidates, and election officials now eliminate the last-place finisher in rounds, reallocating those ballots until someone passes 50% support. That tabulation process, plus outstanding mail ballots, meant final results were still unsettled days after polls closed, just as officials had warned. Read more from CBS News.

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Welcome New Members

Myra Bennett
Alexis Taylor-Granados
Dawn Whitney
Theodore Fagin
Nakisha Barthell

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Previous Issues

February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 May 2026

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