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Santa Ana Mayor and City Council Page 3
<br />Vote Letter" that individuals applying for naturalization can then share with the United States Citizenship
<br />and Immigration Services ("USCIS") to avoid any unnecessary delays in the processing of their
<br />application.' Advocates, in turn, have worked with the local USCIS office to educate staff on the legality
<br />of noncitizen voting in San Francisco school board elections.'
<br />San Francisco's approach did not materialize overnight. It took intentional efforts by city officials
<br />and community advocates to identify and research how to overcome possible roadblocks. Other
<br />jurisdictions are also thinking through their own approach to administering more inclusive elections.
<br />Oakland, for example, is currently working with county elections officials to implement a measure to
<br />lower the voting age, and the list of cities and advocates throughout the state that are also looking into
<br />how to make immigrant voting a reality is steadily growing.' These statewide efforts confirm that, if it
<br />wants to, Santa Ana can develop and implement a noncitizen voting program in a manner that protects
<br />voters.
<br />We urge the City Council to consider this information as it weighs the decision of whether to
<br />place a noncitizen voting measure on the November 2024 ballot. Thank you very much for your time and
<br />consideration.
<br />Sincerely,
<br />Annie Lee, Esq.
<br />Managing Director of Policy
<br />Chinese for Affirmative Action
<br />Julia A. Gomez
<br />Senior Staff Attorney
<br />ACLU of Southern
<br />California
<br />Annie Lai, Director
<br />Jenna Narahara, Law Student
<br />Amy Al Salek, Law Student
<br />UC Irvine School of Law
<br />Immigrant Rights Clinic
<br />Cc: Valerie Amezcua, Mayor, vam zcua(q�,,5g ��r;;;,ar1g.gm
<br />Jessie Lopez, Mayor Pro Tem (ssMo x.,z y)sari a���aria.or ,
<br />Thai Viet Phan, Councilmember, jpbgrj(y),san a aria. or ;
<br />Benjamin Vazquez, Councilmember, bvazcltp,,e z(y),sari a aria.or ;
<br />Phil Bacerra, Councilmember, i l2qcg-ta(er)
<br />Jonathan Ryan Hernandez, Councilmember, Fa arra.,cnt;g
<br />David Penaloza, Councilmember, djr�a1o(ir)arr�a arra.or
<br />SoniaR. Carvalho, City Attorney, sc rvaliro„(yLsarrta aria.or,,
<br />' Guide to Registration and Voting Process for Noncitizen Residents: Nov. 8, 2022 School Board Election, San Francisco
<br />Elections at 11, hur�,;,//c f,;,e n n;/wvgn-conntcrntrfrApnla>, aj /2023/08/NC N/ �i,uirje fin FN „wc�7.gnalf'.
<br />'Supra, note 2 at 18. �
<br />'Supra, note 2 at 9.
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