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CANDIDATE FORUMS & PRO/CONS

Educated and informed voters are the key to our democracy. We invite everyone to participate in our local Leagues’ nonpartisan candidate forums and pro/con ballot issues discussions.

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Candidate Forums: Sign-up and View

Candidate Forums are one of voters' only opportunities to listen to candidates offer more than just a brief sound bite.

Palo Alto City Council Candidate Forum
Saturday, September 19, 2026 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
RECORDING COMING SOON

Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education
Thursday, September 24, 2026 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
REGISTER and SUBMIT A QUESTION

Hear what candidates are saying.

Form your own opinions of the candidates, based on your own observations.

Get engaged in the political process, using critical and analytical abilities to examine the candidates.

Ballot Measure Analysis

Download LWV California Easy Voter Guide available in multiple languages for proposition analysis.

Here are some tips for evaluating a ballot proposal:

Examine what the measure seeks to accomplish. Is the measure seeking changes that are consistent with your ideas about government?

Who are the real sponsors and opponents of the measure? Check where the money is coming from with vote411/california.

Is the measure written well? Is it “good government,” or will it cause more problems than it will resolve?

Does the measure create its own revenue source? Does it earmark, restrict or obligate government revenues?

Does the measure mandate a government program or service without addressing how it will be funded?

Does the measure deal with a simple or complex issue?

If the measure amends the Constitution, consider whether it really belongs in the Constitution. Remember that all constitutional amendments require voter approval.

Pros/Cons: State & Local

General Election • November 3, 2026

LOCAL: LWV Palo Alto

cubberley center

Measure J: SALES TAX
(Cubberley Community Ctr.)

This measure authorizes a new sales tax in Palo Alto.

QUESTION: Should the City of Palo Alto levy an additional 0.5% (½%) sales tax on sales and use transactions in Palo Alto to fund the acquisition of seven acres of the Cubberley campus and the improvement of the City-owned portion of the campus, and for other general purposes?

This Voter Guide contains a nonpartisan explanation of the ballot measure, with supporting and opposing arguments, which come from many sources and are not limited to those presented here. The League does not judge the merits of the arguments nor guarantee their validity.

REGIONAL: LWV Bay Area

SB 63: Regional Transit Measure

A Regional Sales Tax Measure that would impose a sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.

QUESTION: To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit, avoid increased traffic, and reduce pollution by:

• Preserving BART, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans, AC Transit, Muni, and other transit services for everyone, including workers, students, seniors, and persons with disabilities;

• Supporting transit safety, cleanliness, affordability, and reliability;

• Repairing targeted roads and potholes; and

• Requiring financial transparency, oversight, and accountability;

shall the measure enacting a 0.5% sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and a 1% sales tax in San Francisco for 14 years, generating approximately $980,000,000 annually, be adopted?

Read the full Transit Pros/Cons here.

STATE: LWV California Education Fund

LWVC EF pros cons

In this election, California voters will choose a Governor, and other representatives for national, state, and local government.

Voters will decide if judges on the state's Supreme Court should keep their positions.

California voters will also be deciding on 14 state propositions that are explained in this PROS/CONS.

Five of the propositions were placed on the ballot by the state legislature, and other propositions have been placed on the ballot by people who collected enough signatures.

Visit VOTE411.org to see everything on your ballot, your polling place, and unbiased information on all your voting choices.

SEE THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION HERE