By Dianne Anderson
It’s that time of the political season again to fill in the bubbles of the ballot buried beneath the stack of bills.
Some old schoolers may want to get out and vote the old-fashioned way, stand in long lines for that special “I Voted” feeling, while others may want to avoid potential voter intimidation.
“We’ve heard of those possibilities,” said Jesse Johnson, vice president of the Long Beach Branch NAACP. “That’s why it’s important. In these days, you have options. You can vote in advance. You can mail it in, by mailing it in, or put it in a drop box before voting day.”
Johnson said avoiding politics is not a good choice because this election cycle is one of the most important times in history to vote. Voting is also easier now, and participation can be as simple as returning a ballot on time.
“It is so extremely important, mainly because if we look at the current federal administration, things are not what they should be as it relates to inflation, gas prices, the war, and the list goes on,” he said.
He said many have died and sacrificed for the cause, just so the Black community can get out and vote.
“We’re working hard to participate in, the NAACP Long Beach Branch, as are branches all around the country. We’ve got a huge drive. We put on a voter registration and education some months ago, and we’re continuing to do that and to vote. It’s time to vote,” he said.
Also working with community groups and the Long Beach Public Library, the League of Women Voters of the Long Beach Area is hosting Pros and Cons presentations on ballot measures.
LWV President Maggie Drazil said they are participating in voter registration and education events, including at CSULB to reach voters. She said civic participation extends beyond simply casting a ballot, as local decisions can shape nearly every part of daily life.
Drazil is urging voters to vote early.
Ballots can be returned by mail, at an official drop box or in person at a voting location. LWV recommends mailing ballots at least 10 days before Election Day, and voters can track them through the state’s “Where’s My Ballot?” system.
Voters should also know that intimidation has no place at the polls, she said. California law protects their right to vote from conduct intended to discourage someone from voting through threats, force or coercion.
“If a voter feels intimidated or sees disruptive behavior, they should immediately notify a poll worker or the elections official at the location,” she said.
In the community, some top concerns she hears are when ballots will arrive, where to return them, what to do if a mistake is made, where to find reliable information and how to sort election information from misinformation.
Another big concern is whether the appearance of law enforcement could interfere with a person’s ability to vote or create fear that discourages participation.
She said California has enacted protections intended to prevent interference with election administration and voter intimidation. California law places restrictions on the presence of armed or uniformed security personnel near polling places without appropriate authorization, while recognizing exceptions for legitimate public-safety activity.
With new protections addressing election interference, voter intimidation and election security, she said California voters have many ways to cast and return their ballots.
“There are also new state protections concerning election interference, voter intimidation, language access, and the security of election administration. The Secretary of State’s office and county election officials are the best sources for the specific rules that apply to voters,” she said.
Megan Ignacio, president of the Long Beach Young Democrats, said young people should have a voice in decisions affecting their neighborhoods, schools, jobs and housing. The group is recruiting volunteers for the California Democratic Party’s Voter Protection Team as poll observers and volunteer attorneys.
The community concerns she hears include public comment at City Council meetings, the 2028 Olympics, workers’ and renters’ rights, affordability, parking, the city budget and potential cuts to jobs and services, including libraries and Parks, Recreation and Marine.
The presence of federal law enforcement near voting locations may concern some voters.
“While many believe the Trump administration’s deployment of federal law enforcement and election personnel to “monitor” the election is an attempt to discourage and intimidate voters, voters shouldn’t let their presence discourage them from exercising their right to vote. State and federal law prohibit voter intimidation, threats, coercion, and interference with the voting process,” she said.
At the same time, she said routine law enforcement near voting locations does not necessarily constitute interference. Concerns arise when officers enter polling areas with visible weapons, block access, demand identification or question voters about who they voted for or intend to vote for.
LBYD also points to new California laws aimed at protecting ballots and elections from interference, including penalties for unlawfully seizing ballots, interfering with vote-by-mail ballots and distributing deceptive election information.
The new laws also follow a California Supreme Court ruling that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of about 650,000 ballots from the November 2025 special election was unlawful.
“[Voters] continue to face concerns around ICE, job cuts and unemployment, tenant and disability rights, housing affordability, police accountability, education and equitable access to resources and City services. It’s important that young people and historically underrepresented communities have a meaningful voice in the decisions that directly affect their lives and neighborhoods,” she said.
Beyond election security, the Long Beach for a Just Economy campaign is mobilizing around key propositions that it says threaten to harm communities, silence minority voices and undermine rights.
Through LAANE, the campaign is working with families in North, West and Central Long Beach to increase voter participation, help residents make a voting plan, find their nearest vote center and understand what’s at stake.
“We’re particularly concerned about the billionaire-backed attempt to suppress the vote through Proposition 39, which would disproportionately impact immigrants, young people, low-income community members, and people of color,” said Grecia Lopez-Reyes, project director for Long Beach for a Just Economy.
She said the campaign is also organizing to empower neighbors and strengthen its multiracial, multigenerational coalition to win policies that uplift working families, not big corporations.
“Because of the constant threats from the federal government to intimidate our communities, we are also mobilizing and training poll protectors to help ensure that voters can safely and fairly exercise their right to vote on Election Day,” she said.
For more information:
Long Beach Branch NAACP: lbcanaacp.org
League of Women Voters of Long Beach Area: my.lwv.org/california/long-beach-area
Long Beach Young Democrats: lbyd.org
Long Beach for a Just Economy / LAANE: laane.org/lbje and https://laane.org/impact-report/
California election information and ballot tracking: sos.ca.gov and WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov
For the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: https://www.lavote.gov/