There are 1.8 million registered voters in Orange County. Yet in March 2024, only 37.7 percent of individuals exercised this fundamental civil right.
People aren’t voting. And what’s more concerning as it pertains to our democracy: Those who do cast their ballot in California are not representative of the broader population — especially in Orange County, where the county’s majority are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Nationwide and here in Orange County, BIPOC communities face disproportionate levels of poverty, language isolation, and educational attainment challenges, all of which create barriers to equitable civic engagement. Recent reforms, like automatic registration at the DMV, are designed to make the electorate more representative of California’s diversity; unfortunately, the numbers prove otherwise. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, those who vote tend to be older, white, affluent, college-educated homeowners.
Democracy, at its most basic, calls for fair and equal representation. So, what does it mean when our local judiciary, representatives, ballot measures and city councils are decided upon by a population that doesn’t reflect the true demographics of our region?
When access to voting is impacted — if every citizen does not have equal access to the ballot box — then our democracy has failed.
It’s time to course-correct if we want to create a more equitable Orange County, one where all residents are active and educated participants in making decisions for our community.
This begins with bridging the divide between voters and nonvoters, an effort that Orange County Grantmakers (OCG) is supporting this election cycle. As an organization committed to advancing equity by creating strategic alignment among local nonprofits and philanthropists, OCG is partnering with groups including Charitable Ventures and the OC Votes Campaign, as well as amplifying public platforms like LAist’s Voter Guide and The Voice of OC’s “Feet to the Fire” series to foster a more inclusive electoral process where the right to vote is equally accessible to everyone.
A Voter Education
Choosing not to vote is not uncommon. People hold back for a variety of reasons — from feeling like they don’t understand the process to not having a sense of who the candidates are, or just not feeling like their vote matters at all.
Too often, the news cycle during major election years feeds into this apathy with its sharp focus on top-ticket positions, like president, senator, and House representatives. But there’s more to voting than filling in the bubble next to a high-profile name. It’s often the names voters aren’t as familiar with — think the County Assessor or Board of Supervisors — that have the most direct impact on their day-to-day lives.
These elected officials are in charge of funding and play a key role in dictating how it trickles down into our neighborhoods. It’s crucial that the communities who need investment the most make their voices heard by voting.
This year, OCG partnered with Charitable Ventures OC Votes Initiative (more on that below) and the nonprofit newsroom LAist to syndicate the new Orange County edition of its 2024 Voter Game Plan, a guide that provides the information residents need to make a vote that aligns with their beliefs. It breaks down everything from the top races to hyperlocal issues that directly affect residents yet don’t receive high-profile news coverage. It also puts meaning behind the names residents see plastered across sidewalks by unpacking what these people actually do and how they’re addressing issues that matter most to residents, be it transportation, homelessness, or housing.
Making voting transparent is an essential part of demystifying the process so people are empowered and educated when approaching an election, especially those who have historically not had easy access to this information.
According to Kristen Mullet, Chief Operating Officer at LAist, “Voters need help in making sense of the ballot. It’s not just about who is running and what they stand for, but what the job itself entails, and what skills are needed to be successful. Our Orange County voting guide provides that fundamental information so that voters feel more engaged and comfortable with their choices.”
Driving Local Engagement
Voter engagement starts with not only providing the right resources but also making sure the resources are coming from the right sources.
With deeply established roots in communities that are historically underrepresented at the polls, nonprofits are trusted messengers in this space. They are experts in recognizing and responding to their communities’ needs. and are in a unique position to create positive change by encouraging voter engagement. They are a crucial link between equity and democracy-building, but many hesitate to wade into political waters.
For the 2024 election cycle, OCG is thrilled to support Charitable Ventures and the “OC Votes, Get Out the Vote Campaign” that taps into the power of nonprofits to strengthen democracy through civic engagement. In addition to clearly outlining that it is safe and legal for nonprofits to encourage voting if they honor the clear guidelines provided by the IRS, the campaign provides resources for them to reach community members with information about how to exercise this important civil right in our society.
On March 14, we hosted a joint symposium for nonprofit election engagement that brought together c3 and c4 nonprofits, community groups and foundations for a panel of expert speakers talking about advocacy, civic engagement, the role of the media, and Orange County’s own voting infrastructure.
In the coming months, more workshops will dive into topics including election law, how to protect our vote in the era of AI-generated disinformation, and how to increase voter engagement in the hardest to reach communities. Translated materials, toolkits, and culturally relevant messaging, as well as voting guides like the Orange County Voter Game Plan, will be made available to regional civic engagement partners to distribute to the communities they serve.
Everyone should have the resources and confidence to choose the elected officials who will fight to make for the best interests of their neighborhoods and communities. Because when there is full inclusion of the entire region’s residents in the electoral process, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, neighborhood of residence or other characteristics, democracy will be achieved — and that is the key to a more equitable Orange County.
For more information on how to join Orange County Grantmakers in getting out the vote or investing in nonprofits to drive civic engagement, please email Taryn.Palumbo@ocgrantmakers.org or visit ocgrantmakers.org.
Anne Olin is President, CEO and Founder of Charitable Ventures, a nonprofit incubator and capacity builder that manages more than $25 million annually. Anne holds a BA in Political Science/History, Phi Beta Kappa from UC Irvine (1993), and a Masters in American Immigration Policy from Claremont (1995). Anne was awarded the 2017 OC Funders Roundtable Quiet Achiever Award, the 2019 Judy Swayne Leadership Award, and the 2020 Women of the Year 46th Congressional District Award and 2020 OC Innovators for Good Award, for her work on behalf of Orange County nonprofits.
Taryn Palumbo earned her Juris Doctorate from Chapman University School of Law, passed the CA Bar in 2011 and earned her B.A. from Loyola Marymount University. As the Executive Director since 2018, Taryn provides strategic leadership to Orange County Grantmakers, a regional association of philanthropic funders in Orange County, overseeing and executing programming, communication, member services and community engagement, while supporting the operations of the organization.
Opinions expressed in community opinion pieces belong to the authors and not Voice of OC.
Voice of OC is interested in hearing different perspectives and voices. If you want to weigh in on this issue or others please email opinions@voiceofoc.org.
