Sacramento, California Local News
Sacramento County brings voter registration efforts to unhoused residents
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As election day nears, efforts to get people to vote across the state are in full gear.In Sacramento, advocates for vulnerable communities such as the unsheltered population ensure they’re not left behind this election season.On Tuesday, Sacramento County officials partnered with the nonprofit organization Loaves & Fishes to host a registration drive, where a dozen unsheltered people took the time to ensure they’re ready to vote in the 2024 General Election.The respite center serves around 1,000 people daily through its 60 programs.”These are folks who don’t necessarily have a platform to be heard anywhere so we try to facilitate that for them here, especially through the vote – everyone’s vote matters,” said Naomi Cabral, the development director at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes. In California, residence is not a requirement to be eligible to vote.”Just because you may be experiencing homelessness, doesn’t mean you are not eligible to vote,” said Sacramento County’s Ken Casparis.While options like mail-in ballots are tricky, Sacramento County sends ballots to people living in shelters if they receive their mail at those shelters. “Some unhoused individuals keep PO boxes and use those to receive their ballots,” said Casparis. Voters cannot use a P.O. Box or business address to register to vote but can use a P.O. Box or business address to receive mail.Unhoused registered voters who do not have an address to receive mail can visit vote centers to receive a ballot or register and vote at any county voting center by submitting a general location such as a shelter, a park, or an intersection where they’re sleeping.Sacramento’s latest Point-in-Time count found that 6,615 people experience homelessness on any given night.Currently, there are 603 active registered unhoused voters in Sacramento County.One of those voters is Carla McClein. She signed up at Loaves & Fishes on Tuesday and is ready to make her voice heard.”I believe I can make a change if I vote and say what I disagree with. It just gives me a right,” said McClein.The 59-year-old’s top concern is the economy, as she spends another day on the street.”I would like in my senior years – because my health is not very good – I would like to at least be in a comfortable apartment where I don’t have rent increases and I’m not forced out because I can’t afford rent,” McClein told KCRA. Sacramento County officials have held similar events at Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center and Mercy Housing. The next registration drive at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes will take place on Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information about the November election, including key issues and other races on the ballot, check out the KCRA 3 Voter Guide.Find more political news from our national team here.
As election day nears, efforts to get people to vote across the state are in full gear.
In Sacramento, advocates for vulnerable communities such as the unsheltered population ensure they’re not left behind this election season.
On Tuesday, Sacramento County officials partnered with the nonprofit organization Loaves & Fishes to host a registration drive, where a dozen unsheltered people took the time to ensure they’re ready to vote in the 2024 General Election.
The respite center serves around 1,000 people daily through its 60 programs.
“These are folks who don’t necessarily have a platform to be heard anywhere so we try to facilitate that for them here, especially through the vote – everyone’s vote matters,” said Naomi Cabral, the development director at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes.
In California, residence is not a requirement to be eligible to vote.
“Just because you may be experiencing homelessness, doesn’t mean you are not eligible to vote,” said Sacramento County’s Ken Casparis.
While options like mail-in ballots are tricky, Sacramento County sends ballots to people living in shelters if they receive their mail at those shelters.
“Some unhoused individuals keep PO boxes and use those to receive their ballots,” said Casparis. Voters cannot use a P.O. Box or business address to register to vote but can use a P.O. Box or business address to receive mail.
Unhoused registered voters who do not have an address to receive mail can visit vote centers to receive a ballot or register and vote at any county voting center by submitting a general location such as a shelter, a park, or an intersection where they’re sleeping.
Sacramento’s latest Point-in-Time count found that 6,615 people experience homelessness on any given night.
Currently, there are 603 active registered unhoused voters in Sacramento County.
One of those voters is Carla McClein. She signed up at Loaves & Fishes on Tuesday and is ready to make her voice heard.
“I believe I can make a change if I vote and say what I disagree with. It just gives me a right,” said McClein.
The 59-year-old’s top concern is the economy, as she spends another day on the street.
“I would like in my senior years – because my health is not very good – I would like to at least be in a comfortable apartment where I don’t have rent increases and I’m not forced out because I can’t afford rent,” McClein told KCRA.
Sacramento County officials have held similar events at Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center and Mercy Housing.
The next registration drive at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes will take place on Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. to noon.
For more information about the November election, including key issues and other races on the ballot, check out the KCRA 3 Voter Guide.
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