Liang - Please Respect the Right to Campaign Near Library, Essential Community Gathering Place

From: Liang C

Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 4:59 PM
Subject: Please Respect the Right to Campaign Near Library, Essential Community Gathering Place
To: Jean Anton <jean.anton@cob.sccgov.org>
Cc: City Clerk <CityClerk@cupertino.org>, Liana Crabtree <lianacrabtree@yahoo.com>

RE: Polling or early voting places in any library or around any library

Dear Citizens' Advisory Commission on Elections,

The intention to provide more places to accept early voting or polling places is appreciated. However, every voter can easily drop off their sealed ballot in any post office or mail drop. How many voters would actually need to drop off their ballots as designated Early Voting location? What access right we are taking away by placing Early Voting or Ballot Box in and near libraries?

The libraries serve specific roles in our democratic society, as stated by American Library Association:

“Libraries have long recognized their role in promoting access to a diversity of ideas, serving as depositories for government, community, and other useful information. But many are also expanding that civic role by facilitating the exchange and sharing of those ideas.”

Public Library Online states the importance of Civic Engagement at the Library:

“At a time when polarization is the defining and dividing feature in American politics, public libraries are the place to bring communities together to solve local problems both big and small. In general, civic engagement means people and groups working together to make a change that promotes the quality of the community.

The benefits of a more formal approach to civic education in the public library are tremendous. Public libraries by the very nature of their service can level the playing field for the unrepresented and marginalized populations. Public libraries who offer local civic training bring their residents into the decision making process, make government more accessible, and can even nurture future civic leaders.

The entrances of many libraries have become a place for people to "bring communities together to solve local problems both big and small." There might be citizens and civic-minded teenagers advocating for an affordable housing bill or a clean energy bill or a particular candiate. There might be citizens informing other citizens of the damaging impacts of specific bills. The libraries can " level the playing field for the unrepresented and marginalized populations" since everyone is allowed to express their views there.

However, if a ballot box is located near any library or inside any library, you are essentially taking away the right of many citizens to engage with other citizens. Often, the libraries are the only public place for such civic engagement, since other commercial properties might forbid such civic activities.

Libraries in Santa Clara County are especially well-utilized. Community meeting rooms are often the only low-cost option for citizens to meet or teach or learn from one another. If the Early Voting/Polling area takes away a community room for 2 months for June election and then 2 months for November election. For a total of 4 months, not only the community room cannot be used for its intended purpose, no civic conversation on essential topics in the election can happen within 100 feet of the Early Voting/Polling area.

Please do not place any Voting/Polling place near or in any library, since it will interfere with the intended purpose of the libraries.

Thank you.

Liang C

Cupertino Resident