By Julie Diaz Martinez
“Voting is the foundation of a democracy,” says Dolores Huerta, cofounder of the National Farm Workers Association.
As we approach the 2026 midterm election, many Americans feel their vote makes no difference. In California, 85% of eligible voters are registered to vote, yet only 65.3% participated in the last presidential election.
In April 2017, then California Secretary of State Alex Padilla launched online preregistration through the state’s voter registration portal RegisterToVote.ca.gov. California is one of 18 states that allow 16-year-olds to preregister to vote. When they turn 18, they receive a notification and become a qualified voter.
Does My Vote Matter?
Many people believe their individual vote does not make a difference. They believe their ONEvote will not be missed.
But your vote does matter! “I always knew how important each vote is, but I did not feel that weight until it impacted my own race,” saysTauna Rodarte, one of the two candidates who ran in a special election for Trustee of Fallbrook Union High School District in 2023. “The race was too close to call on election day, and every ballot had to be counted.
Three weeks, later, she found out “I had won by a mere 37 votes!” says Rodarte. She encourages everyone to vote in every election. “For those who don’t believe their vote matters, it does. My beliefs and values are very different from those of my opponent. Had they won, decisions affecting our schools and students would have been very different. Vote; your voice depends on it!”
Am I Informed Enough to Vote?
Advocacy groups help voters make sense of the many ballot measures and the large field of candidates printed on ballots.
Voto Latino is a civic engagement organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters and creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Voto Latino says, “It’s important to be an informed voter, so you can choose the best candidate that aligns most closely with your values. Their guidance urges “voting to address critical challenges such as housing affordability, immigration, and civil rights.”
The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering everyone to participate fully in our democracy. The LWV offers valuable resources in English and Spanish to help voters make informed decisions about candidates and ballot issues. It also provides details about your specific ballot and how to vote in your local community and state. The League of Women Voters of North County San Diego is a good place to start:
Use LWV’s Vote411 to check your voter registration status and verify your information:
Is My Ballet Secure and Is Voting Safe?
Despite unfounded and unproven accusations that voting is not safe, our entire voting process is safeguarded by the Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, who states, “The reality is that voter fraud is incredibly rare in America. Every serious investigation into the issue comes to the same conclusion: voter fraud simply does not happen at a large scale. California has robust systems in place to catch wrongdoers, but the simple fact is that very, very few people intentionally try to commit voter fraud.”
Do I Have Time to Vote?
Some people are unable to miss work to cast a vote. But you don’t have to go to the polling place on election day. You can vote by mail or use a ballot box. In 2021 California Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 37, which states every registered Californian must receive a vote-by-mail ballot. “Early voting also allows for voters to vote in person several weekends in advance of election day, providing the convenience of not having to adjust one’s work schedule,” says Secretary of State Weber.
Does My Vote Really Impact My Life?
Our ability to cast a vote is our ability to voice our values, our concerns, and our advocacy. Voting directly impacts local healthcare, education, housing, taxes, immigration policy, climate, criminal justice, and economic issues.
“We have all got to engage in the political and the voting process…If people don’t vote, everything stays the same,”says Dolores Huerta.
