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Your 2023 ADEM Election – Everything you need to know

Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEM)

At our January 10 meeting, PDB member Susannah Delano took us to school about our 2023 ADEM election. Borrowing from her notes, here is all you need to know. We are adding a full list of our District 11 candidate names with their ballot numbers (needed to fill in your ballot), and a few of our members’ recommendations on preferred candidates. >> PLEASE DO REGISTER AND VOTE! There is still time!

>> QUESTION: What’s an ADEM election, and why is it important?
Many are still learning about our ADEM election – if that’s you,
see below, after the list of candidates. <<

ADEM election – you must REGISTER to vote!

YOU HAVE TO REGISTER TO VOTE and BE A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT. Some of you registered early enough to get a mail-in ballot (and we will come back to that momentarily). Others can still register online at https://ademelections.com/register/person, but then you will have to vote in person at the Assembly District Election, which will be held in Fairfield at the CA Teachers Assn, 4751 Central Way on Sunday Jan 22, 10 AM – 2 PM (look for the white CTA sign). If anyone would like help reaching the polling location please contact us to coordinate (safe!) carpooling or transportation options. Please don’t let the in-person requirement prevent you from registering! YOUR votes will help strengthen the progressive caucus in our party. Don’t miss this chance to really push the needle left! Live registration is also possible in-person at the Fairfield voting event Jan 22, 10am-2pm. (Strangely, we are told that registration remains open until 6pm on Jan 22, 4 hours after the voting event closes, not sure how or why.)

The Ballot – How to Vote

The mail-in ballot arrived at home addresses on January 9 and many who received it will probably be frustrated with its less than impressive/frankly appalling design.

ademelections.com/register/person

Ballot Front: For mail-in ballot voters – your Participant ID number is the 10-digit PIN sent to you in a confirmation email after you registered. The confirmation email was sent to you on the same day you registered. (You can search for the email from CADEM called “ADEM: Registration details.”) Your PIN can also be found online at the ADEM website. Go to https://ademelections.com/register/person – and look for “FIND MY PIN” at top right.

Ballot Back: The back of the ballot ONLY shows candidate NUMBERS (without any names)! Crazy! To fill in the ballot, you will need to access the number assignments for candidates. We will list the matched names and numbers below, or you can go to https://www.adem.cadem.org/candidates-results/ad-11. You will have to deal with this clumsy situation in order to successfully fill in your ballot.

There IS a detailed document online, How to Fill Out and Return Your ADEM Ballot Instructions, with all the info you need, but you will probably find everything you need right here.

More information

  • Last day for receipt of mail-in ballots is Jan 31, so you should probably mail it out no later than Jan 22.
  • IMPORTANT: You can vote for up to 14 candidates. There is no requirement to gender-balance your votes on the ballot and it’s ok to vote for fewer than 14 overall.
  • Full information is available for review at https://ademelections.com
  • Volunteers are needed on Jan 22: if you have volunteered to assist or would like to do so, please confirm with Margie Olson at [email protected] for all the details.

Here’s the Big List of Candidates, and a few recommendations

PDB has not organized for endorsements or interviewed candidates, but PDB voters should know that among the 20 candidates are two who are members of PDB: Monica Brown and Susannah Delano.

There is one District 11 SLATE promoting itself, the “Progressive Workers Alliance” (Napa-Solano Labor Council), endorsing their 14 candidates.

RECOMMENDATIONS: While the Club is making no formal endorsements, several PDB members have emailed their support for various candidates (see summary below). Again, you do not have to vote for 14 candidates (feel free to leave a bunch of spaces blank). You must NOT vote for more than 14 or your ballot will be disqualified. Keep in mind as you prepare your ballot:

  • Two candidates are members of Progressive Democrats of Benicia: Monica Brown #3 and Susannah Delano #5
  • 8 PDB members have expressed personal support:
    • 5 for Susannah Delano #5
    • 4 for Cassandra James #11
    • 2 for Karen Rogers #9
    • 1 for Julia Routson-Thomas #20
    • *1 for Steve Quinlan #2 (already secured delegate position)
    • *1 for Monica Brown #3 (already secured delegate position)
    • *1 for Verneal Brumfield #12 (already secured delegate position)
  • * Note that Steve Quinlan #2, Monica Brown #3, and Verneal Brumfield #12 have already secured their positions through the Solano Dems Central Committee and so they don’t need your vote. If they win an ADEM seat they will have two seats, and will give up one. We suggest you vote for someone else. (Monica, Verneal, and Steve are ok with this.)

THE FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES AND THEIR BALLOT NUMBERS – There are 20 candidates who have filed to run in our Assembly District 11. Voters cast votes for up to 14 candidates. The top 7 SIF (Self-identified Female) and top 7 OSIF (Other than Self-identified Female) candidates will be declared winners. You can vote for up to 14 candidates. There is no requirement to gender-balance your votes on the ballot and it’s ok to vote for fewer than 14 overall. This same list appears at https://www.adem.cadem.org/candidates-results/ad-11

What is the ADEM election , and why is it important

The California Democratic Party– arguably the most powerful state party in the US– holds regional election meetings for Democrats to select delegates to serve 2-year terms. Those delegates help shape and vote on the Party platform, elect Party leadership, and elect Democratic National Committee delegates from CA. The election is held in each State Assembly district – 80 of those statewide. Rank and file Dems in each District elect 14 delegates, 7 self-identified females and 7 other-than self-identified females.  (Additional appointees are named as well.) Many times, candidates run in “slates” with really great sounding names, pool their resources, and win more often than unaligned candidates.

Delegates have a lot of influence, particularly in the Democratic Party, influencing endorsements for state and federal offices like the CA Assembly, CA State Senate, CA Governor, US House of Representatives, and the US Senate. Delegates weigh in on ballot proposition positions, and (in even-numbered years) vote to establish the official California Democratic State Platform. They elect 16-25 CADEM Regional Directors who function as our liaison between the California Democratic Party, County Central Committees, and Democratic Party Clubs. Delegates also elect Party Officers: Chair, two Vice-Chairs, Secretary, and Controller (in odd-numbered years after presidential elections). Delegates can join caucuses within the Party to advocate for specific agendas or platforms. The bare minimum for a delegate is to attend the Democratic Party Convention– really no limit to how active a delegate can be in the Party.

Yes, all this is “inside baseball,” but the bottom line is that the ADEM is a high-impact, low-turnout election. And it’s happening now!

We are in Assembly District 11, a new district, 87% of which is here in Solano County, along with tiny bits of Contra Costa & Sacramento Counties. Solano is now the main event in Assembly District concerns – second fiddle no more! It’s exciting and a great time to get more engaged.


Most recent email from CADEM – January 6, 2023

Democrats,

Due to weather conditions, some ADEM meeting dates have been delayed. To stay up to date with the most current ADEM meeting dates, please visit www.adem.cadem.org/where-to-vote.

In the meantime, there is still time to register for in-person voting. The in-person voter registration closes January 22, 2023 at 6 p.m.

Here’s what you should know about ADEMs for the month of January:

January 6, 2023
Vote-By-Mail ADEM ballots will be mailed out on January 6th. Individuals who have asked for a vote by mail ballot may drop their ballot off at any in-person voting location or mail their ballot to:
California Democratic Party
℅ Redstone Print and Mail
910 Riverside Pkwy Ste 40
West Sacramento, Ca 95605-1510

January 22, 2023
4th Day of ADEM Meetings
In-Person Participant Registration Closes at 6 p.m.

January 31, 2023
Deadline to verify Voter Registration
Last Day for Vote by Mail Ballots to be received

You may vote at any ADEM location in the State, regardless of whether you are registered in that district.

As a reminder, if you registered to vote in-person, there will be at least one ADEM location in each Assembly District. All locations should be open for 4 hours, opening to the public no earlier than 10 a.m. but no later than 2 p.m. At the in-person voting location in your specific Assembly District, voters may access their voting PIN and a ballot and cast your vote.

Again, find your specific in-person voting location in your district, please visit www.adem.cadem.org/where-to-vote. Please note: This page will be updated frequently due to weather conditions and other unforeseen changes to locations. Please check back often, even right before going to the location to ensure that you have the correct date, time and address details.

Before finalizing and casting your ballot, make sure that your ballot is filled out CORRECTLY. There are 3 ways that a ballot may be considered invalid:

    1. Duplicate PIN – If two or more ballots have the same PIN number, then both ballots will be rejected.
    2. Invalid PIN – If the PIN is not a valid number, then the ballot will be rejected. This may include that the PIN entered is missing numbers or is not a valid number.
    3. Too Many Selections – If a ballot has 15 or more bubbles filled in, then the ballot will be rejected.

The Scantron Company determines whether a ballot is considered Valid or Invalid. CADEM staff WILL NOT overturn a decision made by the Scantron Company.

WHERE DO I VOTE? >> 

VOTING PROCEDURES >> 

For more information on the 2023 ADEMs visit: https://www.adem.cadem.org/
If you have questions please email [email protected].

Onward,

Team CADEM


Choosing our Assembly District 11 Democratic Party delegates

YOU can help vote for candidates to represent us at the California Democratic Convention! You must REGISTER in order to vote, DEADLINE TO REGISTER: Saturday, December 31!! (Voting takes place in January)

WHAT DELEGATES DO: The Delegates we elect will vote for the officers of the California Democratic Party, as well as endorsements for legislative and statewide offices and ballot propositions.  In even numbered years the Delegates establish the party platform and weigh in each year on state resolutions.

Below is info and the LINK you will need in order to register to vote. DEADLINE to register is Saturday, December 31 – REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! After you register, the voting takes place in January. The steering committee will recommend candidates at our next meeting. Both Monica Brown, and Susannah Delano (Roger Straw’s daughter) will be candidates.

From: CADEM <[email protected]>
Subject: ADEM Elections: Register to Vote TODAY!
Reply-To: [email protected]

Democrats,

Have you registered to vote in the upcoming ADEM elections? If not, there is still time!

If you are not a Candidate, but would like to participate as a voter in the 2023 ADEMs, the Vote-by-Mail registration window is open from Monday, December 12 at 5 p.m. to Saturday, December 31, 2022. In addition, the In-Person registration window is open Monday, December 12, 2022 at 5 p.m. and closes Sunday, January 22, 2023 at 6 p.m.
CLICK LINK>> REGISTER HERE TO VOTE IN YOUR 2023 ADEM »

Here’s what you should know about ADEM for the month of December:

December 12, 2022

  • Vote By Mail Participant Registration Opens at 12 p.m.
  • In-Person Voting Participant Registration Opens at 12 p.m.
  • Candidate Statement Submission Form Opens at 12 p.m.

December 19, 2022

  • Candidate Statement Submission Form Closes at 12 p.m.

December 31, 2022

  • To Request a Vote By Mail ADEM Ballot Registration Closes

To learn more about the procedures and key dates for the 2023 ADEM Election, please visit the ADEM website by clicking on the link below.

ADEM Website:  https://www.adem.cadem.org/

If you have questions please email [email protected]

Onward,

Team CADEM

Meeting Reflections – November 15, 2022 – Election results and where from here

MEETING REFLECTIONS
NOVEMBER 15, 2022

Our normally scheduled Second Tuesday meeting would have fallen on election day this month, so we postponed our PDB meeting for a week, until the Third Tuesday, November 15.

After a year of jam-packed and informative meetings, we planned for this post-election time together to simply reflect on and discuss the outcome of the elections and where we want to go from here in 2023.

Support for Georgia Senate candidate Raphael Warnock

After the treasurer’s report and several announcements (see below), our Steering Committee presented a recommendation to contribute to the extremely important campaign of Georgia Senate candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock.  After discussion, it was moved and seconded to donate $500 to the Warnock campaign. The motion was overwhelmingly approved by Zoom poll.

PROGRAM: Election Results and Where from Here…

Our secretary “zoomed” us into breakout groups to chat about our experiences and learnings during the months leading up to last week’s local, state and national elections.  Members were also asked to suggest topics for future meetings, to address the need to find a new club Secretary as of January 2023 and to find new members for our Steering Committee.

Returning to the plenary session, we engaged in a great free-ranging discussion on our election learnings and observations, etc.. Here are a few notes from that discussion:

2022 Benicia Election – Some Lessons Learned:

    • Start planning and campaigning earlier! (As in NOW!)
    • We won the mail-in vote.
    • Better marketing for average people (for instance, Birdseye tv ads were helpful).
    • Terry Scott did a great job of visiting lots of homes.
    • Clever flyers are key.
    • Signs were scattered – maybe too few and far between.
    • Letters to the editor in print and online were helpful (even though the Benicia Herald has only 1200 or so subscribers).
    • Campaigns took advantage of residents’ long memories of Valero PAC’s massive spending and dirty tricks in 2018/20. (A group that was totally separate from candidates’ campaigns had a website and sent out 5,000 postcards. PDB endorsed and arranged without any campaign knowledge to send out 4,000 postcards, many to multiple-voter residences.)
    • Forums were ok, but could be improved – maybe could be more debate-like.
    • Do more at Farmers Market next time.
PDB – Where  From Here:
    • Program suggestions: ISO, GHG reduction, North Study Area (Seeno property)…
    • Member diversity – need to look into ways we can reach out more, become more relevant to and attract participation of more racially diverse members and youthful members.
    • Shorter meetings?

Participants were encouraged to write down notes from their breakout rooms and contact us.

Announcements
    • A member shared results of our Meeting Poll. Using a form on our website, members indicated whether and how we should return to in-person meetings. Results indicate that we will continue monthly zoom meetings for now, but maybe starting next Spring, will hold quarterly in-person meetings.
        • Zoom only – 4 in favor
        • In-Person only – 6 in favor
        • Combination, continue zoom except for in-person on a quarterly basis – 25 in favor
    • A member shared good information about letter-writing for the Warnock campaign via VoteForward, https://votefwd.org/.
    • A member shared information about his “marketing” project for a more general audience than current PDB outreach, the podcast Benicia Voice, https://anchor.fm/beniciavoice/ available on Apple and Spotify – and encouraged everyone to listen and subscribe to it.