Voting Rights for All
Sharifa Batts, Program Vice President
Voter suppression is any attempt to discourage or stop specific Americans from registering to vote or casting their ballot. Specific groups are based on their ethnicity, race, age, politcal affiliation, or other variations of voter’s identies. In the United States, voter suppression has a long and unpleasant history, and over the last two decades it has reappeared with a vengeance. There have been many lawsuits and advocacy as many groups are fighting voter suppression from every angle.
Professor Jodi Balma
On Saturday, September 7, AAUW has the privilege of hosting Jodi Balma for a presentation on Voter Suppression and Election Myths. Professor Jodi Balma started her career as a professor of political science at Fullerton College in 2000. She has served as the faculty coordinator of the Honors Program since 2012 and was named 2022 Orange County Community College Teacher of the Year.
Professor Balma specializes in American politics and California state and local government. Her goal is to help students learn how to think about politics and community problems with an emphasis on critical thinking and analysis, regardless of political party or ideology. She helps students understand how to become involved with community leaders to find solutions.
Balma is a regular on‐the‐record analyst for newspaper and radio media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Voice of OC, KNX 1070, KPCC, and NPR. She is actively involved in the League of Women Voters and frequently hosts local candidate forums throughout North Orange County each election cycle. Professor Balma launched a North Orange County focused podcast titled “A Slice of Orange: North Orange County Politics” to help her students and the community learn more about local government.
Guests are welcome to attend this program that starts at 11:00 AM. Please send in your RSVP to attend the Branch meeting by August 30. See you on Saturday, September 7 at the LBCC Foundation room 208 for the meeting OR on Zoom. RSVP at:
aauwlongbeach.reservations@gmail.com
Visit our Website for more info: https://longbeach‐ca.aauw.net/