Laserfiche WebLink
I <br />October 30, 2023 <br />Santa Ana City Council <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />)I 11 I YII(I I I I(I <br />Ir I <br />Re: Agenda Item #3 - Concerns with Elections Integrity in Santa Ana <br />Dear Mayor Valerie Amezcua and Santa Ana City Council Members, <br />We, the undersigned organizations, write to express our deep concerns about the issues <br />raised by the Orange County Registrar of Voters Bob Page regarding the recall election of <br />Santa Ana City Councilmember Jessie Lopez. <br />The information regarding the inconsistencies in the recall petition's boundaries, which have <br />resulted in the disenfranchisement of 1,186 voters due to the use of an incorrect map, has <br />caused serious doubts about the fairness of the upcoming election. Ensuring the integrity of <br />our electoral system is important to uphold fair and transparent elections. <br />In light of this, we strongly urge the City Council to consider canceling the recall election. <br />A similar issue arose in Sacramento in 2022 during a recall process, which also could have <br />caused confusion and disenfranchisement of voters in that city. Sacramento's City Attorney, <br />Susana Alcala Wood, published an opinion reversing the city's practice of adopting new <br />city council maps immediately after redistricting. In her formal opinion, she found that <br />council members represent their old districts until the end of their terms and specified which <br />neighborhoods can participate in a recall based on the pre -redistricting map. <br />Canceling the recall is crucial to protecting the democratic process and maintaining public <br />trust in our local government. The Santa Ana City Council has the responsibility to maintain <br />the city's electoral integrity and uphold the democratic rights of its residents. <br />Sincerely, <br />Harbor Institute for Immigrant & Economic Justice <br />VietRISE <br />El Centro Cultural de Mexico <br />Orange County Justice Fund <br />