California Voter Resources
May 15, 2022 1:31 PM Subscribe
Looking for voter endorsements, guides, and other resources to help me vote for the California June 2022 primaries (and future elections)? As a busy individual how do you figure out who to vote for? What things can I reasonably read to learn about the candidates or issues?
For what its worth, I generally lean left.
For what its worth, I generally lean left.
Best answer: The LATimes does a good endorsement roundup which is usually good to read (even if I don't agree with their endorsements)...but I see it's limited to subscribers right now.
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:10 PM on May 15, 2022
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:10 PM on May 15, 2022
Best answer: San Francisco's League of Pissed Off Voters has some statewide races in their voter guide.
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:03 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:03 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: League of Women Voters usually does a good job of aggregating candidate info.
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:04 PM on May 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:04 PM on May 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Here's an archive.org version of the LA Times endorsements. Scroll down for statewide races.
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:10 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by spamandkimchi at 4:10 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
I just got home from a picnic lunch and ballot-filling with friends. One person had already done a good bit of research and brought the endorsements page from the LA Times, and then I pulled up the Knock-LA and DSA endorsements, and someone else had the Progressive Voters' Guide on their phone and were doing research on the fly (like, none of us were previously familiar with the Left Unity Slate (an interestingly strategic effort) and we were all "why are there so many candidates from the Peace and Freedom Party and when they say freedom do they mean FREEDOM or, like, regular freedom?"). If all the endorsements agreed, we generally chose that. If they didn't, we dug into what the various endorsements did and didn't like - some of us picked different choices in those cases.
I pretty much always do some form of this. Sometimes just with my husband, one year we had two extra roommates and we all did it together, we've done it over Zoom with friends before. It's much easier to absorb the information when everyone has just one datapoint to manage. It's also very pleasant to eat snacks and vote with your friends.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:36 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
I pretty much always do some form of this. Sometimes just with my husband, one year we had two extra roommates and we all did it together, we've done it over Zoom with friends before. It's much easier to absorb the information when everyone has just one datapoint to manage. It's also very pleasant to eat snacks and vote with your friends.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:36 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ballotpedia, enter your zip code and there is often lot there entered by the candidates themselves.
posted by Oyéah at 5:01 PM on May 15, 2022
posted by Oyéah at 5:01 PM on May 15, 2022
Best answer: The Peace and Freedom party was mentioned but not explained so I'd like to clarify that they are a Socialist party originally founded in the 60s to run Black Panthers for elected office. In practice they act as an umbrella party for leftist activists and candidates from smaller grassroots organizations to gain ballot access.
As a Real Socialist (tm) Californian, I feel comfortable always voting for the PFP candidate if there is one. If not, I vote Green. If no candidate from either is available, I check the big labor unions' voter guides.
In theory I think one should usually choose by comparing what organizations endorse each candidate, but I don't have time for that and I think voting is basically symbolic and real progressive change is forced by people's movements and only ratified by politicians when we leave them no other choice. So I'm fine with saving time by just voting for whoever's socialister, and that's PFP if available.
posted by Krawczak at 9:42 PM on May 16, 2022
As a Real Socialist (tm) Californian, I feel comfortable always voting for the PFP candidate if there is one. If not, I vote Green. If no candidate from either is available, I check the big labor unions' voter guides.
In theory I think one should usually choose by comparing what organizations endorse each candidate, but I don't have time for that and I think voting is basically symbolic and real progressive change is forced by people's movements and only ratified by politicians when we leave them no other choice. So I'm fine with saving time by just voting for whoever's socialister, and that's PFP if available.
posted by Krawczak at 9:42 PM on May 16, 2022
Best answer: I've been referencing the Laist voter guide and the Cal Matters voter guide, both have been very informative and helpful in breaking down the different offices and respective candidates. (Cal Matters is a good resource in general for Californians).
Voter's Edge California is another useful resource when I need more details on a candidate.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 2:36 PM on June 7, 2022
Voter's Edge California is another useful resource when I need more details on a candidate.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 2:36 PM on June 7, 2022
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For example, Here is the DSA-LA 2022 Primary Voter Guide.
posted by vitabellosi at 2:14 PM on May 15, 2022