As the California Primary Election approaches, there are a couple items that Sierra Nevada residents, and Nevada County voters in particular, should keep in mind.
Proposition 68 (The Clean Water and Safe Parks Act) will appear on the June 5 statewide ballot. If passed, this general obligation bond will invest $4 billion dollars in the state’s most critical water, park and natural resource needs. Specifically, Prop 68 earmarks $142 million for the Sierra-Cascade region.
The Sierra Fund’s Board of Directors formally endorsed the proposition in January, recognizing the funding as a critical driver to support restoration of a Sierra that is still recovering from the centuries-old disturbance of the Gold Rush while facing emerging challenges such as drought, catastrophic wildfire and climate change.
We urge you to support Proposition 68 because our vision for a resilient Sierra requires robust funding, and Prop 68 dedicates more funding to our region than any previous legislative bond measure. Learn more here.
Changes to Nevada County Elections
The June 5 Primary Election will usher in a new voting process to Nevada County, designed to provide more flexibility in terms of when, where and how voters cast their ballot. Nevada County is one of five California counties piloting the new process under the Voter’s Choice Act, passed in 2016.
For the June and November 2018 elections, all voters registered in the County will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, regardless of whether one was specifically requested. Voters can mail in their completed ballots or drop them off at a secure drop-box located throughout the county. Individuals who wish to vote in person are able to visit any of seven vote centers strategically located across the county, rather than being limited to one neighborhood polling place. Click here to locate vote centers and drop-boxes for the June 5 election.
The Sierra Fund’s new bilingual Environmental Justice Community Organizer, Greg Thrush, has been working with the Elections Office and the Future of Nevada County Elections Coalition (FNCEC) to ensure that all Nevada County voters have access to information about these important changes, especially the County’s Spanish speaking population. More info for Spanish speakers can be found by clicking here.
Greg has engaged in direct outreach through tabling at local grocery stores, visiting apartment complexes to post outreach materials and distributing electronic messaging to be included in apartment newsletters. In addition, TSF staff helped design and distribute outreach materials to attract participation in the County’s bilingual voter education workshop in Grass Valley in April.