Get out The Vote! Fierce Advocacy and Civic Engagement
By Gus Hernandez
California’s Presidential Primary Election is on Tuesday, March 5th, and The San Diego LGBT Community Center is working hard, and playing hard, to get out the vote!
Last year, we began hosting an ongoing series of trivia nights at Gossip Grill, and on Monday, February 12th from 6pm-8pm, we’re back at Gossip Grill for “Don’t Play with My Heart” – Love and Advocacy Trivia Night with The Center. Folks 21 and over are invited to join us for a fun night of friendly competition as we go head-to-head to see which team is the most knowledgeable in our Love and Advocacy trivia categories!
Join us for Trivia Night on February 12th.
Bring your friends, lovers, and chosen family for an evening of trivia and networking with our FACE team! This is the perfect opportunity to connect with folks who are passionate about our community and looking to help make a difference. Trivia questions will focus on the history of the LGBTQ+ social justice movement and local San Diego politics. We have a mystery prize for the winning team!
Be one of the first 30 people to arrive and get a free drink token. Light appetizers will also be provided. Attendees must be 21 and over to attend. Contact advocacy@thecentersd.org if you have any questions and RSVP at bit.ly/trivia-love-2024to let us know you are coming!
Sign up for a shift to Get Out the Vote
Each election season, The Center’s Advocacy & Civic Engagement department conducts robust, nonpartisan campaigns aimed at mobilizing our community to vote. We educate and engage our community through phone banking, canvassing, and posts on social media.
We couldn’t do this without the help of our Fierce Advocacy and Civic Engagement (FACE) volunteer team! FACE volunteers get together with Center staff to phonebank on weekday evenings and canvass on weekend mornings and afternoons, in addition to enjoying special volunteer appreciation mixers and other social opportunities.
These dedicated volunteers will sign up for one, two, three or even more shifts to make sure that we are amplifying LGBTQ+ voices at the ballot box! FACE volunteers do not need to complete The Center’s volunteer orientation. Ready to join us? Just fill out our form at bit.ly/gotv-2024.
Don’t forget to vote on March 5th.
Last year, thanks to our FACE volunteers, we were successful in getting over 2,500 registered voters to pledge to vote. If you are a registered voter, you will receive your ballot for the March primary in the mail, and you can mail in or drop off your ballot at any designated vote center. Don’t forget to mail in or drop off your ballot by March 5! Vote centers will also be open for in-person voting.
If you are registered to vote with a political party, you will be given a ballot for that party. Each political party has the option of allowing No Party Preference (NPP) voters to vote in their presidential primary. This year, three parties are not allowing NPP voters to vote for their presidential nominee: the Green Party, the Peace and Freedom Party, and the Republican Party. You must be registered with each of these parties to vote for their presidential nominee. The following three parties do allow NPP voters to vote in their presidential primary: the American Independent Party, the Democratic Party, and the Libertarian Party.
Same Day Voter Registration available in California
California has Same Day Voter Registration for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or who missed the deadline to update their voter registration information for an election. Eligible citizens who need to register or re-register to vote within 14 days of an election can complete this process at their county elections office, polling place, or any Vote Center.
The Center is a Vote Center
The San Diego LGBT Community Center will be open as a Vote Center from March 2-4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Election Day on Tuesday, March 5, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drop off your ballot or vote in person at The Center to receive one of our iconic rainbow “I Voted” stickers!
As we approach the 2024 general election in November, we’re looking forward to continuing to help build a future where LGBTQ+ people are valued and empowered, where diversity, inclusion, and lived experiences are celebrated, and where justice and equity are realities for all. If you’d like to get involved with our work, we’d love to have you join us for a trivia night or volunteer with our FACE team for a phonebank or canvass!