Legislative Oversight Hearing On California's Low 2014 Voter Turnout

November 4, 2014 was a record low turnout for a regularly scheduled general election at 42.2% of registered voters statewide. By contrast, the last gubernatorial general election in November, 2010 drew nearly 60% of registered voters.  At this oversight hearing, the Senate and Assembly elections committees will hear testimony from experts and community members on the possible causes of low voter turnout and discuss policy changes that could lead to increased turnout in future elections throughout the state.  To watch the hearing online go to http://sd26.senate.ca.gov/.

What: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments, chaired by Senator Ben Allen, and the Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting, chaired by Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, will conduct a joint oversight hearing on California’s low 2014 voter turnout.

When: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 1:30 p.m.

Where: State Capitol, Room 3191 Sacramento, California 95814

Who: Witnesses include Oakland Rising Executive Director Esperanza Tervalon-Daumont, California Common Cause Executive Director Kathay Feng, California Voter Foundation President Kim Alexander, Greenlining Institute Fellow Zainab Badi, Disabled Rights California Staff Attorney Fred Nisen, California Civic Engagement Project Director Mindy Romero, NCSL Elections Program Manager Wendy Underhill, Public Policy Institute of California Research Fellow Eric McGhee, state and local elections officials, and others.

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