League of Women Voters forum: How Can We Protect Voting Rights?

The League of Women Voters promotes proactive reforms that expand early voting and online voter registration, ensures existing pro-voter laws are being followed and challenges all efforts that limit the ability of voters’ to exercise this basic right. The League actively opposes voter ID laws, which unfairly impact low-income, elderly, and minority groups. The League also advocates against barriers to the voter registration process, works to prevent last-minute Election Day barriers and helps millions of voters get the information they need to vote. 

Our September Forum will open with Santa Barbara’s new City Clerk, Sarah Gorman, who will report on the city’s Nov. 7 election. Speakers will then explore how we can all work together to protect voting rights. We will host a panel discussion to include:

A review of the League’s work to protect voting rights at the local, state and national levels – a speaker from LWV of California who is knowledgeable about these issues

A brief history of voting rights and voter suppression in the U.S. – Ted Anagnoson, professor emeritus of political science at Cal State LA and a Visiting Professor at UCSB

The impact of gerrymandering and other means of voter suppression on minority voters, and the results of California’s new redistricting process – Dr. Gregory K. Freeland, professor of political science at California Lutheran University

Efforts of grassroots activists to promote civic engagement, remove barriers, and provide opportunities and information to support Latino and other underrepresented voters – Marcos Vargas, Executive Director, Fund for Santa Barbara

The forum is co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara Public Library and TVSB. It is free and open to the public