Democratic Club

Jane Brittingham

LW contributor

The LW Democratic Club is focusing not only on the encouraging news to celebrate, but paying attention to the few critical challenges on the horizon.

The Supreme Court gave voters a massive victory by ruling that mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day must be counted, which keeps the door open for every voice to be heard. But even with that win, the accessible, universal mail-in system in California is still facing a quiet storm. At the federal level, the SAVE America Act is being heavily pushed by the administration. It sets up strict hurdles that would make it much harder for everyday folks to register and vote by mail. Californians will also vote on the California Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative, also referred to as Prop. 39, on the November ballot. This measure would bring strict voter ID mandates to the state, adding complicated data-matching rules to mail-in envelopes that could cause thousands of valid ballots to be rejected over clerical errors.

The LW Democratic Club believers that it is important for club members to stay informed and protect voting access by working together.

The club membership meeting is Wednesday, July 22, at 1:30 p.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 2. with California State Assembly candidate Chris Kluwe as the featured speaker.

Kluwe is a familiar and welcome face to the club, having visited the location on several occasions. After successfully advancing through the June primary, he is set to face Republican Gracey Van Der Mark in the general election on Nov. 3. Kluwe will share his vision for the 72nd District as well as his strategic roadmap for securing a victory in November.

The Hospitality Booth is open the first Tuesday and the third Thursday of the month, and is located outside Clubhouse 6 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. At the booth, people can register to vote, update their address, or change their party affiliation with the help of one of the club volunteers. Visitors can also receive campaign literature, have lively discussions on current events, and enjoy a welcoming environment to share thoughts with like-minded neighbors. For more information, contact Rachael Lehmberg at rlehmberg815@gmail.com.

People are welcome to join the Lunch Bunch crew at the Hof ’s Hut off Seal Beach Boulevard at 11:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. It’s a chance to enjoy a good meal, great conversation, and the company of like-minded friends and neighbors. The next lunch will be Wednesday, Aug. 5. For more information, contact Debbie Wrathall at Debbiewrathall@mac.com.

The next Voter Education session will be Aug. 12, at 10:30 a.m., in Clubhouse 3, Room 3. Voter Education Sessions are the second Wednesday of each month. For more information, email Beverly Bender at beverleybender@ gmail.com.

The LW Democratic Club believes health care is a right, diversity is a strength, the economy should work for everyone and that facts and truth matter.

For more information about The LW Democratic Club and about upcoming elections at the local, state or national level, email lwsbdemocraticclub@gmail.com.

People can also view and follow the club’s Facebook page and website at www.sblwdems. wordpress.com, where people can read current and past articles unedited.